Three JCB employees yesterday completed the London Marathon and ran up an impressive total for the company’s NSPCC Appeal.

JCB is part way through its £1 million ‘Reaching Out to Children in Staffordshire’ appeal for the NSPCC, which will fund the building of a centre in Stafford to help vulnerable young people at risk of cruelty.

Yesterday the appeal received a boost when Paul Hellowell, a Technical Services Product Specialist at the World Parts Centre in Uttoxeter, Peter Ellis, a Quality Manager at JCB Landpower in Cheadle and Patrick Munro, a Senior Design Engineer at the World HQ, Rocester, pulled on their running shoes for the London Marathon.

Patrick, 33, of Mickleover, Derby, who completed the Marathon in 3 hours and 8 minutes, is on target to raise more than £2000. He said: “It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. The support from the crowd was phenomenal and really helped me when things got tough.

“I would also like to say a big thank you to the representatives from the NSPCC. They were very appreciative of what the runners were doing on their behalf and set up a suite near to the finish line so that runners could have a muscle rub and a hot shower once they had completed the race.

“It was a real buzz taking part in something so big and as soon as entry opens for next year's race I will be signing up... and running it for the NSPCC, of course.”

Peter, of Nantwich, completed the Marathon in 3 hours and 28 minutes and so far raised £1,650.

Paul, of Leek, crossed the finish line in 5 hours and 29 minutes and has raised several hundred pounds. He said: "I'm chuffed to bits that I managed to do it but it was tough and probably not something I'd attempt again!"