Grandfather of three Maurice Copeland is celebrating coming home 20 minutes ahead of schedule in his final London Marathon.After running 18 full marathons in the last 25 years raising over �15,000 for various charities, the 80-year-old retired firefighter from Mundesley decided he would run this marathon for himself.

Grandfather of three Maurice Copeland is celebrating coming home 20 minutes ahead of schedule in his final London Marathon.

After running 18 full marathons in the last 25 years raising over �15,000 for various charities, the 80-year-old retired firefighter from Mundesley decided he would run this marathon for himself.

Mr Copeland timed his run at six hours 39 minutes - 21 minutes less than his seven-hour target. He says his best time was three hours 38 minutes in 1986.

His first marathon was in Norfolk when he was 55 and since completing the last one in the county a year later he has competed in Stoke, Suffolk and Birmingham as well as 12 in the capital and a list of half-marathons abroad.

Mr Copeland, who lives with wife June, 79, puts his fitness down to healthy living.

He runs every other day, has been a member of the North Norfolk Beach Runners for 20 years and plays golf twice a week.

He said: 'I keep to good eating. My wife looks after me. I don't do anything out of the ordinary.

'I've been lucky really - I don't smoke and I drink occasionally. I eat all sorts of food but only in moderation. I put it down to good living.'

Mr Copeland, who moved to Norfolk in 1968, has helped a number of good causes through his running including the East Anglian Air Ambulance. In 2006 he presented the charity with a cheque for �1700.