WITH his trademark white hair and distinctive moustache, he looks just like Albert Einstein.

Now, Carl Elliott’s Newport running club has paid tribute to him one of its oldest members with a lookalike Einstein mascot – which has clocked up more than 30,000 quite the miles this year itself.

The popular 71-year-old, who has been a member a popular member of Lliswerry Runners for 30 years, became synonymous with the physicist because of his trademark white hair and moustache.

Such is the resemblance that his fellow club members recently decided to play a joke on him by making an Albert Einstein teddy – complete with custom-made running top – their unofficial mascot.

Tim Reese, 53, from St Julians, said: “I was looking on the internet for something just to take the mickey out of him.” he said.

“We all think he looks like Albert Einstein.

“Carl’s really well liked and he looks after the people who’ve never run before and the slower runners. He’s like a grandad to everyone.”

Mr Reese even created a Facebook page to encourage runners to take the “mini-Carl” mascot along with them on foreign trips to France, Austria and the United States – much to the amusement of the pensioner. “He’s travelled more miles than me all over the world – everybody absolutely loves him,” said Mr Elliott.

“He’s got white hair and my hair’s white and I’ve always had a big moustache. People want to see him and ask, ‘Can I take him out? Can I take him out?’ They’re booking him up to take him.

“All the people from other running clubs say, ‘He gets everywhere!’ Wherever I go, it’s always nice to be recognised.”

Mr Elliott, from Cromwell Road, Newport, recently recorded an impressive time of 1hr 1min 23sec while running the quarter-marathon for Lliswerry Runners at the Waterford Viking Marathon.

Despite having suffered a serious back injury, the pensioner remains active on a daily basis and runs a 5k course every Saturday at Tredegar Park.

For more information on mini Carl and his adventures, visit his own  Facebook page.