He set himself an ambitious target of running a half-marathon every month of the year.

But when bad weather threatened to stop him completing the feat, Dave Walton refused to be beaten.

The 38-year-old, from Watton, set himself the New Year's challenge in January to raise money for Cancer Research and help him to keep fit.

He has now run more than 157 miles - which is roughly the distance between Norwich and Birmingham - in half-marathons across the UK, including the Great North Run in September.

The IT technician at Springwood High School, in King's Lynn, finished almost all of his runs in under two hours.

Due to poor weather conditions, his final run in Milton Keynes had to be cancelled.

But so he could finish what he started, he took part in a virtual run in Watton on Thursday, December 14, where he ran the same distance and submitted his evidence to the organisers in order to get a finish time and his final medal.

Mr Walton said the journey has had its ups and downs, adding he had 'illness and injuries with little time to rest and recover - but I still came out of it at the other end'.

He has smashed his target of £500 for Cancer Research, with his current donations standing at £1,295.

Mr Walton said: 'I feel delighted about the amount I've raised. It's great that the money will go towards helping more people beat cancer in the future and hopefully one day everyone will be cured.'

The idea came to Mr Walton after he missed out on the opportunity to run the London Marathon last year but wanted to do something for a charity which helps cancer sufferers, after losing his grandfather and uncle to the disease.

On whether he will embark on another challenge next year, he said: 'Having no time to recover from each race has taken its toll a bit on me and I need a bit of a rest.

'However I may consider it again one day. I will continue to run and probably take part in a small number next year. Alongside this the Milton Keynes Winter race I was supposed to do on Sunday is set to be rescheduled for January and therefore I will most probably taking part, this will therefore make it 13 in 13!'

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Daves12