A POOLE man has completed his 44th marathon in 44 days.

Pete Thompson's epic fundraising challenge also took him to 44 countries, starting in Russia on April 1 and concluding in Dublin on Sunday.

Mr Thompson, who is supporting mental health charities Mind and Poole's Livability Holton Lee centre, was welcomed in by family, friends and supporters.

"I would not want to belittle or patronise people with long term mental health issues by suggesting I have suffered seriously myself, but like most of us I can say that I have certainly experienced moments and periods of my life where I feel I have had to reach out for the support of others," he said.

"This has been more apparent within the last year or so and this challenge is very much a way for me to move forward and take a positive outcome from these experiences."