A MARATHON man walking 711 miles on a lorry-mounted treadmill visited part of the North-East yesterday.

Record-breaker Ross Coleman attracted lots of attention when he came through Darlington en route to the Millennium Bridge.

It was one of the final stops on his 36-hour journey from Newquay to Newcastle, on the back of a 58ft lorry.

He was walking to support GEFF, the national governing group for physical activity, in its campaign to encourage people to beat the bulge after Christmas. Mr Coleman, who has completed 480 marathons, crossed five deserts and set nine Guinness Hall of Fame records for treadmill endurance, said: "I know how difficult it is for people to get started and stay active -until ten years ago, I was the original couch potato.

"Walking changed my life and GEFF can motivate them to get up off the couch and take exercise."

GEFF supports Government targets to get 70 per cent of people exercising, to reduce the UK's rising obesity rate.