A serial half-marathon runner is taking on his ninth, after running all but one in a race's history.

Chris Williams, 56, of Kings Road, Barnet, will run his ninth Royal Parks Half Marathon on the race's 10th anniversary, having missed out on one race due to injury.

Mr Williams has raised more than £17,000 for various causes, including dementia, Parkinsons, and children's charities.

The race also has emotional memories for him as in 2014, after running for Parkinsons UK, his father sadly died from dementia the following day.

He said: "Parkinson's is an important health related cause and I feel grateful that I ran for the Alzheimer's Society in a previous year."

He added: "I’m running this year because of the experience and because it is the 10th anniversary; so it’s very special. Each year is such an uplifting experience for many reasons.

"The route is amazing, it has changed only slightly over the years but offers some wonderful sights in central London. The weather each year has been warm and sunny and the crowds lining the course are so supportive of everyone."

He aims to complete the half in less that one hour, 40 minutes, with his personal best landing at one and a half hours.

The father-of-three will also be running alongside one of his daughters and her boyfriend, while his wife, Karen watches from the sidelines with their dog, Theo.

The Royal Parks Half Marathon, held on October 8, starts in Hyde Park and follows a scenic route through three more of London's eight royal parks: Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens.