THIRTY-six years ago, Kevin O'Sullivan ran in only the third London Marathon, and hoped one day to take part in the event alongside his son Liam.

Sadly, that never came to pass - but Liam Roberts-O'Sullivan will this year take his place on the starting line on Sunday April 28, with his teacher father very much in his thoughts.

Kevin O'Sullivan worked at Caerleon Endowed Junior School for some 30 years, retiring as deputy head just a couple of years before he died of cancer aged 60 in May 2017.

"Generations of people would have known him, and he ended up teaching children whose parents he taught," said Mr Roberts-O'Sullivan, who was brought up in Caerleon but now lives near Ammanford. He works for disability charity Leonard Cheshire.

"He's my inspiration for running. It was his dream that we would run in London together, but unfortunately that never happened.

"I've been unsuccessful in the London Marathon ballot for three or four years, so I looked for charities that I would like to support and had places. I came across Worldwide Cancer Research, which funds research into the disease all over the world.

"I've been running on and off for the eight or nine years, and last year took it up more consistently. I've completed a few half marathons and 10Ks in the last year, and I'm doing some more including the Llanelli, Newport, Swansea and Cardiff Half Marathons."

Mr Roberts-O'Sullivan, 33, has also seen a health benefit from his running regime, losing two-and-a-half stones with little change to his diet.

He is aiming to raise £2,200 for Worldwide Cancer Research and will endeavour to better his father's 1983 time of 4hrs 19mins.

Donations can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/londonmarathonliam

Mr Roberts-O'Sullivan is posting updates on his training and running progress on Instagram @lrobos