The deck of a Westcountry warship doubled as a running track for a sailor who has completed a mammoth 1,000 miles for charity.
Petty Officer James "Dutchy" Van Der Linden has raised thousands of pounds after completing the run on the upper deck of HMS Monmouth, as the Plymouth-based frigate carried out patrols in the Gulf.
PO Van Der Linden, 30, set himself the challenge when the frigate left the city back in October. Running an average of six miles a day, he completed the challenge in 167 days and had to deal with extreme heat, wind, rain and extreme fatigue as his body protested at the task – and occasionally he found himself forced to take unplanned rest days simply to let his body recover.
"I never really doubted I could do it but sometimes the end really did seem a long way off," he said.
Over the course of his 9,000 laps of the ship's upper deck, PO Van Der Linden worked his way through four pairs of trainers, two iPod arm bands, two pairs of headphones and gallons and gallons of water.
He hopes to have raised around £3,000 for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
Anyone wishing to donate can do so at www.virgin moneygiving.com/Dutchy VanDerLinden.
