Shopkeeper Scott Terrell is hoping for a case of third time lucky this April, after his two earlier attempts to enter the London Marathon were scuppered by injury.

Mr Terrell, 31, the assistant manager of Costcutter in Queen's Crescent, Chippenham, has wanted to enter for years.

"I was gutted when I had to pull out last year," he said.

"Not just because I had always wanted to take part. I was hoping to raise a lot of money for the National Asthma Campaign.

"Two of my team at Costcutter suffer from asthma, as do some of my friends' children and some of the kids who come into the shop and I really wanted to do my bit."

Scott is pulling out all the stops to join the line-up on April 13.

"I've shaken off a cold and chest infection in the last two weeks and I've been out running and am up to 31 miles," he said.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Scott can donate at the Fizz Bar on The Bridge, Chippenham, or you can e-mail him at scott.terrell@virgin.net