Defying the obvious potential for jibes about a 'rubbish' costume, a Norfolk man is preparing to run the London marathon with a bin strapped to his back.
Dave Clark, also known as Dustbin Dave, is hoping his participation in the race, which takes place on April 23, will inspire people to look out for their bins, use them and keep the country tidy.
The Caister man rose to fame in 2021 when his enthusiasm for rubbish receptacles went public.
He appeared on national TV, became the face of a nationwide campaign for recycling bins and last year was named 'Anorak of the Year' by the Dull Men's Club.
Mr Clark, 52, said: "I'm not running it for a charity with the cost of living crisis. I am simply running it to deliver a message, 'Keep Calm and Bin It'."
He started running in July 2019 with the Norsuf walk, jog or run group organised by Russell Ray and Trevor Rawson.
Since then he has taken part in 67 park runs, some half-marathons and two charity runs after the deaths of his parents.
"I've always wanted to do one single marathon in my lifetime and the ultimate one is the London marathon," Mr Clark said.
He has spent the last few weeks training with a friend and on Saturday, Apri 1, he trained with the bin strapped to his back, running 21.2 miles in the rain from Caister to Great Yarmouth and back.
"The bin went well. It's a nice light bin. I drilled a hole in the bottom to stop it filling up with rain," he said.
"It felt really comfy with the bin on my back."
Mr Clark's enthusiasm for bins began at the age of seven-years-old when he loved watching binmen empty the bins on his street and enjoyed trips to the dump with his father.
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