Last week’s Castle Combe Chilly 10k was the perfect appetiser for restaurant manager Michael Dobbins, as he prepares to tackle the Bath Half Marathon on Sunday.

The 38-year-old, who works as duty manager at Jack’s Restaurant, at Hartham Park, took up running last year. He has notched up the miles across the county, completing the Wiltshire 10 in Melksham and the Castle Combe 10k already this month.

He said: “It was really hard on Sunday because of the wind; we were running in 40 to 50mph winds.”

Last year he completed the Chippenham Half Marathon in just over two hours, and is now looking to beat his record.

“I am aiming for about one hour 45 minutes.”

“I started running last year to get fit and healthy. I’ve done these two races and have been going out for a few runs in the week of five or six miles.

“I’m a glutton for punishment really; I want to sign up for the Chippenham and Devizes half marathons later in the year, and I’m looking to increase the mileage and try to join a full marathon next year.”

He was already raised over £500 in sponsorship for his chose charity, the Meningitis Research Foundation.

“When I started last year a friend of mine had a boy the year before who was diagnosed with meningitis”, he said.

“It’s an illness that a lot of people don’t know about and a charity that doesn’t get as much attention as the bigger ones”.