Shropshire running firefighter completes race in full gear

Mr Beardmore said the kit was only designed to be worn for 15 to 20 minutes at a time

A fundraising firefighter says he was "over the moon" to complete a 10km (6.2-mile) race in full kit.

Connor Beardmore took part in the race in Oswestry, Shropshire, wearing his helmet, tunic and breathing equipment weighing a total of 18kg (2.8 stone) and designed to be worn for 20 minutes.

He completed the challenge in just under 66 minutes, raising more than £1,000 for the Fire Fighters Charity.

He said he next planned to tackle a longer race, or aim for a faster time.

The firefighter said he attracted "weird looks" and "horn beeps" during training runs in his kit

"I pushed really hard in the last 1km to beat my PB [personal best] in all of my kit by around four minutes, so am really chuffed with that," he said.

"The last 200m (218 yds) was a full-on sprint finish to try and get the best time."

Bosses at Oswestry Fire Station said they were proud of Mr Beardmore's "dedication and effort".

In a Facebook post, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service added Mr Beardmore had gone the extra mile for a "fantastic cause".

"A massive shout-out for your hard work. You've made us all very proud," it said.

Connor, second left, was joined by dad Tim Beardmore and colleagues Chloe Upton and Jim Barker

The firefighter said the hills were tough due to the weight of the kit but the support of fellow runners, dad Tim and colleagues Chloe Upton and Jim Barker, helped him round.

"I'm absolutely over the moon to help such a fantastic charity," he added.