A CHARITY has paid tribute to two Thurrock runners who have contributed to a £4,000 fundraising drive.

It saw Tilbury's Dan Swann join Grays teacher Huw Breese, along with Jackie Spink and Sam Chater, both from Suffolk, to raise £4,000 after running the London Marathon for Ormiston Families.

All four runners finished the gruelling 26.2 mile course with the following times:

Dann Swann: 5:41

Huw Breese: 4:36

Jackie Spink: 5:40

Sam Chater: 4:06

Graham Ball, director of fundraising and communications at Ormiston Families, commented:  “We would like to congratulate all the runners and extend our gratitude for the fantastic £4,000 that has been raised to help us continue supporting families in need across the East of England.”

Mr Swann, a repack coordinator from Tilbury, commented: “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but also the best. It was such an amazing feeling having the crowd cheer you all the way round.”

Ormiston Families provides wide-ranging support for children, young people and their families. It includes work in children’s centres, providing children’s visits across the region’s prisons and support for parents through a range of parenting courses.