A DETERMINED teacher has completed two marathons in two weeks to raise more than £1,000 for charity – and it was all a bit of an accident.

Blake Matthews, who teaches A-level sociology at Seevic College, in Runnymede Chase, Benfleet, ran the London marathon on Sunday, April 13.

Then two weeks later he took on the Madrid marathon on Sunday, April 27.

Mr Matthews, 28, who lives in Westcliff, raised more than £1,000 for the St Helena Hospice in Colchester.

However, Mr Matthews was never planning to do both.

He explained: “I booked both, thinking I would never be accepted, and ended up being offered a place for each.

“The Madrid marathon was much harder due to the extra heat and the hilly nature of the city, but I stuck to my plan and still managed a sprint finish.”

Mr Matthews trained for his double marathon by running from Westcliff to Seevic College every day.

He said: “I had a lot of support from students and staff. A lot of my students who saw me running to college each day probably thought I was crazy, but it’s been worth the effort.”

Mr Matthews showed his appreciation by delivering a big thank-you card to each member of staff and students at the college who sponsored him.

After completing the Madrid marathon Mr Matthews arrived back in England on a Sunday night ready to teach his class his class on Monday morning.

He completed the London Marathon in 4 hours and 14 minutes, and the Madrid marathon in 4 hours and 33 minutes.

He now now plans to raise more money and run the Amsterdam Marathon in October.