A pair of reporters have successfully completed a jog across 13.1 miles of rural Essex to raise money for charity.

John Hyde and Jonathan Schofield, from the Harwich and Manningtree Standard, competed in the Great Bentley Half Marathon.

Jonathan, (aka Batman), said: “As the only people in fancy dress we attracted a few strange glances from passers-by around the lanes of Essex but the other runners were hugely supportive and it was rather humbling to see the ages of some of the runners who left us in their wake.

“While it is fair to say we did not challenge the leaders, it was enjoyable and we managed to raise more than £600 for charity.”

They were raising money for two good causes – a local severely disabled child and the paper’s campaign to save the Harwich Electric Palace, the oldest working cinema in the country.

The daring duo completed the course in just over two hours.