Great North Run: Tony Morrison to run carrying a fridge

A Tyneside man is planning to take part in Sunday's Great North Run carrying a fridge strapped to his back.

Tony Morrison, from Hebburn, has already run the famous half marathon 15 times and feared people may not sponsor him this year unless he did something different.

The fridge will be fitted with a set of speakers powered by a car battery, weighing about 40kg (6 stone) in total.

He hopes to raise more than £2,000 for a local youth football charity.

Mr Morrison said: "I didn't think I would get much sponsorship if I just ran it, because everyone knows I can run it."

He has been training with weights - lifting them and running with them - and runs nearly every day.

As a children's football coach he considers himself quite fit but said: "I still like my pies and have a pint. I'm not a complete athlete yet."

'Strongest minded'

Mr Morrison's personal trainer, Ian Turrell, believes he will complete the run.

"He's doing really well, he's one of the strongest, fittest men I've come across in my training," he said.

"[He's] also one of the strongest minded which I think is important for doing a half marathon, especially carrying a fridge on your back."

Mr Morrison hopes to raise more than £2,000 for South Tyneside Football Trust in Jarrow.

Mr Morrison said: "I'm not sure what the record is for a man with a fridge... but generally the idea is to stay fit, to get to the end.

"I often run long distances anyway. Just generally not with fridges on my back."