Edinburgh Marathon founder dies aged 46

Geoff Sims took the Edinburgh Marathon from a few thousand runners to 30,000

The founder of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival has passed away at the age of 46.

Geoff Sims, who made the Edinburgh Marathon the biggest mass participation running event in Scotland, died from cancer on Friday.

The event has now become the second largest marathon in the UK.

His colleagues paid tribute to him and said he would be "very much missed". His funeral will take place in Derby next Tuesday.

Neil Kilgour, Edinburgh Marathon race director, said: "We as a team have been privileged to have worked with and had as a friend a loving individual who will be very much missed by us all.

"His legacy is the positive impact that he had on all who worked with him as well as the knowledge that he has put in place a team that will continue to deliver world-class events that raise significant money for the charity sector."

The Edinburgh Marathon has grown from attracting 3,000 participants in 2003 to 30,000 entrants.

Born in Derbyshire, and living in North Berwick for the past 10 years, Mr Sims was also responsible for developing a new race distance, the Kilomathon series, which has taken place in England and Scotland as well as a number of other races hosted across the UK.

Mr Sims leaves his partner, Lorna, and his three children.