A COUNTY law firm has helped one of its associates cross the London Marathon fundraising finish line with more than £1,500 raised for charity.

Partners at mfg Solicitors have added £1,000 to the charity pot of employment lawyer Darryll Thomas, trebling the £542 already raised by the Bromsgrove-based solicitor for the Stroke Association.

The father of two, who completed the gruelling 26.2 mile run in 3 hours 8 minutes and 34 seconds, originally had a target of £500 when he entered the race but thanks to his fellow lawyers he has raised more than treble that total.

He said: "I was delighted to be able to help such a vital charity out of the office as well as within it. It was very hard going at times, despite all the training I had done, but knowing that it was all for the benefit of a cause as important as this kept me going. I’m very grateful to my colleagues for their support in helping me to treble the money already raised through the generosity of family and friends. The Life After Stroke Centre in Bromsgrove does so much for so many so I hope the money raised can go some way to giving more support to people and their families.”

Bernice Jones, regional director at the Stroke Association, added: "Darryll’s marathon run had already resulted in a very generous and welcome donation, but with mfg adding to it by another £1,000 it will make an even bigger difference to the lives of people left disabled or dependent on others following a stroke.”

Mr Thomas acts for the Stroke Association professionally. The charity relies on fundraising for 70 per cent of its income and the London Marathon is its biggest event, with the total money raised contributing to providing support that includes the Stroke Association’s first Life After Stroke Centre, which opened in Bromsgrove in 2012.