A Braintree man is encouraging other residents to put their running shoes on in support of the NSPCC.

Shayne Addington will be running the London Marathon next year for the children’s charity in support of its campaign to raise £2.3million to help answer every child who contacts its ChildLine service.

Shayne, 35, who is a trainer for BT Openreach, said: “I will be running as part of Team BT and our chosen sponsor is the NSPCC.

“It’s a great cause and having children of my own, it’s close to my heart.”

The NSPCC is the official charity partner for the world’s most iconic race in 2016, a year that also marks 30 years of its ChildLine service.

Kirsty Joanes, NSPCC fundraiser, said: “It’s fantastic that in this milestone year, we’ve been chosen to be the official charity of the Virgin Money London Marathon, and with runners like Shayne in Team NSPCC, it will be our biggest and best team ever.

“When a child contacts ChildLine to tell us they’re being abused, feeling suicidal or are in danger we take immediate steps to make them safe.

“But right now we can only help three out of every four children who try to contact us, and that is why we need local runners to sign up and support us.

“Every step, every mile, will help us keep every child safe.”

If you would like to be part of Team NSPCC, apply for a guaranteed place now at nspcc.org.uk/londonmarathon