A GRANDDAD has completed a 24-hour run around Orford Park in memory of his father.

Christopher Ball's dad Derek would have celebrated his 75th birthday on Monday, August 14, but he died in December 2014.

Ever since, Chris has marked his dad's birthday with an epic running challenge.

On his 73rd birthday, Chris completed 73 one-mile loops of Orford Park while on his 74th, the dad-of-six and grandfather-of-three ran 74 miles from Derek's favourite place, Llandudno.

This year, Chris tackled his biggest challenge yet by running for 24 hours straight around Orford Park - covering 124 miles.

More than 250 resident turned up to support his challenge, while 130 people ran alongside Chris for parts of the run.

Chris, from Orford, said: "It was absolutely fantastic and I've never had so much support in my life.

"People I've never met before in my life were turning up on the day so it was pretty humbling.

"Throughout the night I had people turning up, and at about 5.45am Ashton Sims turned up to do a couple of hours with us.

"There was a proper community spirit and all sorts of different people were turning up to raise money for different causes.

"It just goes to show that Warrington is a pretty damn good place, and I've made so many new friends."

Beginning at 10am on Sunday and jogging until 10am on Monday, Chris had invited residents to run alongside him for parts of the challenge to raise money for their own causes.

Chris raised more than £1,000 for the MS Society, with Derek having suffered from multiple sclerosis for more than 30 years, while fellow runners raised another £1,000 for their own community groups and charities.

The Alder Crescent resident added: "The first eight hours were really great because I had lots of support, but the middle eight hours were when I really needed my friends and family to get me through it.

"Even though I'd tried to prepare myself for it in my mind, I didn't realise just how hard it was going to be.

"At about 9.45am, I realised that it was coming to an end and everyone was saying how much of a smile I had on my face - I don't think I've ever been so glad to see 10am and once I got home I had a nice bacon butty.

"I think my dad would say that if I was a mad dog wandering around Orford Park for 24 hours they'd throw me into the back of a van, but I hope that he'd be proud - I'm sure he would be, the same way that I'm proud of all my kids and family for coming to support me.

"The youngest participant was my four-week-old granddaughter - I did a lap of the park pushing her around.

"All six of my children and my three grandchildren were there - it was unreal.

"I do have a few things in mind for next year, but the biggest challenge might be convincing my wife to let me do another one."