Sutton Coldfield WW2 veteran walks hundreds of miles

A 100-year-old army veteran has walked hundreds of miles around his home after being inspired by the late Captain Sir Tom Moore.

Lance Corporal Harold Jones from Sutton Coldfield began walking up to 40 laps a day in March 2020 to keep healthy during the Covid pandemic.

Mr Jones has used his exercise regime to help others, after losing three friends to Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

He has now raised more than £43,000 for charity.

The initial fundraising target of £1000 "seemed quite a lot at the time, but I soon got underway" said Mr Jones, who has kept a diary of his exercise.

Since lockdown, the World War Two veteran said he had completed 41,550 laps around the back of his bungalow.

"Which amounts only to 661 miles..which is probably like going to Inverness which is 352 miles, and 309 miles on the way back!"

Mr Jones said he will keep going with the fundraising "for as long as I can"

Mr Jones said he walks in all weather conditions, but tries not to do too much in the rain.

He completes 20 laps after breakfast, and then goes out again after lunch to do some more.

The 100-year-old received a Points of Light Award from the Prime Minister for his fundraising and said he was "amazed" by the recognition, and thought: "what have I done to deserve this?"

"I'm a committed Christian, and that plays a very, very big part in my life," he said. "Service to others is a very big part in the agenda."