A 78-year-old man does not know what more he has to do to get a world record after completing marathon number 426.

Robin Wilson, of West Avenue, Wallington, returned from Estonia last week after completing his latest 26.2 mile feat in just over five hours.

But despite his remarkable achievements, he his resigned to the fact he will never be a record breaker.

Although if there was a record for amount of marathons run by a 78-year-old who was an alcoholic only 30 years ago, he would be a dead cert.

He said: "There is a German guy who has ran over 1000 races. I'm just waiting for him to kick the bucket."

The man he refers to is arch nemesis Horst Preisler who has run 1,305 races of 26 miles 385 yd from 1974 to 31 December 2004.

Mr Wilson, who runs for Collingwood AC, the same club as Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake, said he no intention of giving up yet and is aiming for 500 races at least.

He said: "I think I am the oldest person to have run this many in England, but I've got a long way to go if I want that record."

Had he of started running a little earlier, he may be in line for the record, but when you hear Mr Wilson was an alcoholic just over 30 years ago, it makes his achievement a record enough in its self.

Wilson, who, aged 46, was drinking 15 pints a day and weighed 15 stone was warned he faced an early grave.

He said: "I was playing cricket and was the membership secretary for Merton and there was this guy I saw who I didn't recognise and he hadn't paid his fees so I went to get him."

"But it was me in a mirror, I hadn't recognised myself."