ATTEN-SHUN! The York sports teacher who terrified young soldiers in a hit TV series is set to start shouting Stateside when he competes in a gruelling race.

Mark Sullivan, who played the fearsome platoon sergeant in Lad's Army, is to don his boots and beret again to run in Sunday's New York marathon.

Mark, a sports science lecturer at the city's York St John College, will pound the U.S. streets in his Army boots and a full backpack to raise cash for the Royal Star and Garter Home. He said he hopes his efforts will raise more than £400 for the home, which looks after ex-servicemen and woman suffering from disabilities.

Mark, who also runs for Knavesmire Harriers, said he was also waiting to hear on whether there would be a second series of the hugely popular Lad's Army, which introduced "recruits" to the rigours of 1950s National Service.

Mark said: "They were talking about a celebrity edition, but I haven't heard anything concrete. Would I do it? And take the chance to abuse celebrities - of course I would!"

The former Warrant Officer Class One - who served in the Army for 23 years - said that during his marathon race, he would be carrying the 25 to 30-pound backpack through the streets of New York.

He said: "It is going to be hard towards the later stages, with the strain on the joints, but I am going to enjoy it.

Updated: 12:10 Saturday, November 02, 2002