COMEDIAN Eddie Izzard has revealed how a Dorset-based team helped him to achieve his goal of running 27 marathons in 27 days across South Africa for Sports Relief.

The veteran star spoke to an audience of around 200 people via a live link in a series of talks organised by specialist running store, Running Free in Ashley Cross, Poole.

Physiotherapist Tim Cruse-Drew who works in Bournemouth, and running coach Martin Yelling of Poole, kicked off each evening by giving a behind the scenes insight into their roles in Eddie's South African challenge.

Tim accompanied Eddie for the whole adventure as his physio, masseur, coach, nutritionist, mentor and motivator to help take Eddie's mind off his suffering.

The aim was to complete 27 marathons in 27 days to mark the 27 years Nelson Mandela spent in prison, which has so far raised more than £2.3m.

Members of the audience were also able to quiz the transvestite entertainer via a Skype link. Eddie appeared on the big screen looking immaculate in full make up and pink beret.

Store owner Oli White said the two events had been a big success: "Eddie's overall message was that you don’t need to be an elite athlete to run 27 marathons. He wanted to show that if he can do it, anyone can and that he had discovered that it's all in the mind."

Martin Yelling also revealed how Eddie has inspired him to attempt a mammoth challenge of his own this summer.

Martin, who is married to Liz Yelling (a two time Olympic marathon runner), is planning to run the 630 mile length of the South West Coast Path from Minehead to Poole.

The seasoned athlete will be running 20 to 40 miles a day for 21 days. For details of Martin’s fundraising challenge, visit longrunhome.co.uk

For details of future events at Running Free, visit website runningfree.net . All money raised from the two evenings was donated to Eddie’s Sports Relief fund.