Ken Harker is pounding the streets of the county as he builds up to the biggest races of his running career.

He has been picked to represent Great Britain in the Masters World Indoor Championships, in Austria, this month and the European Championships, in Poland, in July.

As a council tax officer with Hambleton District Council, he is having to organise his training around the issue of bills to the district's 37,000 households.

Mr Harker, 35, said: "I spend all day running around the Civic Centre, in Northallerton, helping with the annual council tax bill mail-out, and all my free time running around the streets, so it is an interesting training schedule."

"It is a great honour to have been picked to represent my country and I hope to do everyone proud next week."

Mr Harker, who lives in Northallerton, began running when he was six.

He joined a running club at the age of 12 and has been entering track, cross-country and road races ever since.

He trains daily for eleven months of the year. Three or four days a week, that involves training with a small group of athletes and working with his coach.

Build up work for the Masters Championships began in earnest earlier this year and Mr Harker has been training on the track, doing hill work, speed work and some long runs.

Any business interested in sponsoring Mr Harker is asked to call (01609) 761331.