TWO speed walkers will be hoping to march into the record books at this year's Yuill Homes Redcar Half Marathon.

John Hunter, a self employed builder from Scarborough, and William MacLennan, a member of the First Battalion Highlanders, will be hoping to break the world individual speed marching record for the distance on March 17.

The pair will attack the world record of one hour, 43 minutes and 42 seconds set by Mr MacLennan in last year's race when he broke the record by more than 13 minutes.

Mr MacLennan, an Army training instructor based at the infantry training centre at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, has been speed marching for more than two years and regularly competes in races such as the Great North Run.

He said: "I first saw speed marching on the Record Breakers programme when I was younger and always thought it was something I would enjoy, but I didn't actually try it until the Great North Run in 2000.

At 38, Mr Hunter is a veteran of speed walking competitions and has been competing for more than 15 years, but this will be the first time he has raced at Redcar.

For more information, call the borough council's events team on (01642) 444373.