MAYOR Chris Mayne has pledged his support for next month’s Bournemouth Marathon Festival by signing up ahead of next week’s closing date. Cllr Mayne will be taking part in The Speed of Light 5k, one of five events taking place between October 4-5.

The route is lit up at dusk and runners are encouraged to wear fluorescent clothing and items to create a luminous spectacular. Cllr Mayne, 70, will be joined on the start line by his son David Mayne, 43, and 11-year-old grandson, Noah Mayne-Venables.

He said: “I have ran three London Marathons in the past, so I am confident I can get round. It would be nice to think the three of us can run together. None of us are proper athletes, but we are all sporty. David is a keen cyclist and Noah plays football. I have been struggling with my knee recently, but I have been out walking the zig zags to build up stamina.”

Cllr Mayne added: “This is the second Bournemouth Marathon Festival. It is a great way to attract people to Bournemouth and see the sea front’s promenade. We have seven miles of golden sands, great restaurants and bars, museums and now we have the Bournemouth zip wire from pier to beach.”

However, the mayor denied he would be recreating London Mayor Boris Johnson’s infamous zip wire ride from London 2012 ahead of his own town’s sporting festival.

The mayor will be running on behalf of the Mayor’s charities, namely Bournemouth Leukaemia Fund, Amelia-Grace Rainbow Fund, Bournemouth YMCA, Bournemouth Male Voice Choir, Special Olympics Bournemouth and District. To donate, please text BMTH26 plus £1, £2, £5 or £10 to 70070. To secure your place ahead of the Thursday, September 25 deadline, visit run-bmf.com