Not many people are tough enough to run one marathon - but one Bicester man is running one every day for a week to cover the entire length of the River Thames.

Dubbed "From Source to Sea", the 183-mile challenge was dreamed up by father-of-two Leo Brooke-Little, of Church Lane, Lower Heyford.

Pub owner Mr Brooke- Little, 39, is running with his friend Neil Hudson, 34, a police officer from Cirencester.

Both have completed several marathons before but have never taken on a challenge on this scale. Mr Brooke-Little ran the London marathon in April and has tried to keep his training up since.

The pair hope to raise £5,000 for Water Aid, which helps provide clean water for the world's poorest people.

At the end of the second day Mr Brooke-Little said: "I'm a little bit nervous about the rest of the week. When you sit down you begin to seize up a bit. I think the last day across London could be a night- mare!"

The idea came when the pair saw a sign in the Gloucestershire village where Mr Hudson lives which read: "Thames Barrier 180 miles."

He said: "We ran past the sign one day and said 'shall we do that?'"

Mr Brooke-Little said people thought he was mad to be running such a massive distance but his wife Sonia said the whole family was proud of him.

She said: "We think he's a bit of a hero -- what he is doing is great."

Mr Brooke-Little and Mr Hudson started their multi-marathon at the source of the Thames near Kemble in Gloucestershire on Monday morning. They hope to reach the Thames Barrier in London on Sunday.

The run follows the Thames path all the way and takes in Lechlade, Eynsham, Wallingford, Henley-on- Thames, Windsor, and Richmond.

Mr Brooke-Little said the path was generally in good condition but in places was a little overgrown.

He said: "On the first day there were certain areas where you could have done with a machete to cut through the overgrowth.

"The scenery is amazing -- if we were looking at the wildlife it would be great."

The two runners will be staying with family and friends along the way and running from about 10am to 3pm. Relatives and friends will be waiting for them at the Thames Barrier on Sunday.

To sponsor the pair see their website at: www. wateraid.org/sourcetosea