An Attleborough dad-of-two is taking on one of the world's best runners for a cause close to his heart.

Sam Bartram is in training for the Great North Run, a half-marathon which takes place in Newcastle on September 10.

Mr Bartram will cross the starting line along with more 50,000 others including Sir Mo Farah, who has won the event for the past three years.

He is doing it to fundraise for Tommy's, which funds research into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth, and provides pregnancy health information to parents.

Mr Bartram said: 'My wife underwent an amniocentesis when pregnant with our first child after he was given a one-in-five chance of being born with a chromosomal abnormality.

'Thankfully the results were positive and we now have two happy healthy children, but I'm all too aware that things could have been so different.

'I was inspired to raise money to try and help develop knowledge that may help others in future.'

Mr Bartram said he only started running in the lead up to last year's Run Norwich, an event which spurred him on to more races.

He said: 'It inspired me to keep running and before long I was training and entering races.

'Over the past year I have entered 18 races. This journey was rounded off by completing Run Norwich 2017 in 00:45:05 - a whole 20 minutes 30 seconds quicker than in 2016.

'Lining up against Sir Mo Farah will be my biggest challenge yet.

Donations can be made online at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SamBartram