A YORK man has run hundreds of miles up and down his street during lockdown, often wearing fancy dress costumes, to help raise funds for the NHS.

Michael Cansfield has dressed as Batman, Spiderman and even Yogi Bear, and other times has wore different football shirts, while running laps every day, from one end of Acomb’s Vesper Drive to the other.

By today, day 40 of his challenge (May 20), he had run more than 300 miles, and has now set himself the targets of running 500 miles, and then 874 miles - the distance from John O’ Groats to Lands End.

The 47-year-old is raising funds for NHS Charities Together, which provides vital funds to help the NHS do more, and has so far raised more than £920.

Explaining how the challenge came about, he said: “I had started the 10,000 steps idea back in February using a treadmill but very quickly got cabin fever from staring at a wall so thought I would start running up and down my street in York.

“It isn’t the longest street and it is also a cul-de-sac and as I have since found out it is on a quite an incline.

“I started running on Good Friday and with the support and friendliness of the neighbours I completed 15 laps, which equated to 5.5 miles. This has now continued every day since increasing to 30 laps, which is 10 miles a day.”

He said he started running up and down his street to “show his face” and get to know his neighbours, as well as as to improve his fitness.

Michael said: “People kept talking about it and saying are you doing this for charity. I then decided why not do it for the NHS?”

To support Michael and make a donation, visit his Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/vesperdriverun