FRIENDS from Knowle Park supporting two different good causes successfully completed the London Marathon.

Abbas Ali, 40, known as Taz, along with Akthar Ali, 38, respectively ran in aid of Children with Cancer UK and British Heart Foundation.

Taz, who is health engagement co-ordinator at Keighley's Bangladeshi Community Association, finished the run in five hours 40 minutes, while Akthar, who drives a taxi for a local private hire firm, finished in five hours 38 minutes.

Taz, who was running in his first marathon, said: "It was an awesome experience and we'd both want to do it again.

"There were about 800,000 people watching us along the route, from start to finish.

"I was fine up to mile 20, but it was a very warm day and I got a headache so I walked for a couple of miles and got lots of fluid in then started running again.

"Akthar was alright up to mile 23 but then he had a bit of cramp which he was able to stretch out. He also walked for a bit then ran again.

"Neither of us had run the full 26.2 miles in training so we felt very proud to finish it.

"The charities we were running for had a great support network for us at the end of the race."

Taz said he expects to raise about £1,500, while his friend has so far collected roughly £1,200 from an eventual target of £2,500 for his own charity.

People can still sponsor Taz by entering the name Abbas Ali on the uk.virginmoneygiving.com/giving/ fundraising web page. Or they can visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Akthar-Ali to sponsor Akthar.