A BEWDLEY boarding kennels boss is realising a long held dream to run the Great North Run – at the age of 72.

Gillian Barker-Bell, who lives in Button Oak, will line up alongside 57,000 other runners to complete the famous 13.1 miles from Newcastle to South Shields on September 10.

She was chosen to take part following a ballot and will be running in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Darlington-born Mrs Barker-Bell, who owns Heathfield Boarding Kennels for cats and dogs, had dreamed of taking part in the run but didn’t know how to get started.

And it was her husband David who not only encouraged her but also secretly entered her into the ballot for places that has helped her achieve this.

She was also inspired by the heroics of British athletes in the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics along with her friend Kim Hood, who had joined Cleobury Mortimer Running Club.

Gillian said: "I saw Kim running with the club in Cleobury and thought if she can do it then maybe I can too.

“I joined a beginners running course at CMRC in October 2016 and by Christmas last year I was running 5km and had completed the Wyre Forest parkrun. Not bad for a lady in her early 70s!”

Kim, along with her coaches and club mates at Cleobury, said she was extremely proud of her progress and determination and described her as “a truly inspirational lady".

A new ‘Learn to Run’ will begin in Cleobury Mortimer in October 2017. Anyone interested should contact run@runcleobury.org.uk for further details.