SAT in the comfort of the studio, well-known sports presenter Jim Rosenthal is not usually the one in the thick of the action.

However, Jim laced up his running shoes as he pounded the streets from Newcastle to South Shields in the Great North Run.

The 62-year-old actually took part in the world-famous half-marathon when it was held for the first time, back in 1981.

And he returned this year, for its 30th staging, completing the 13.1-mile course in two hours, 18 minutes.

He raised �1000 for the Old Hatfield-based Willow Foundation, of which he is a patron.

He said: “Running is natural to me and has formed part of training for every sport I’ve participated in.

“I’ve always seen it as a great method of clearing my brain and keeping in reasonable shape.

“Everything donated will go to my former ITV colleague Bob Wilson’s Willow Foundation – set up in memory of his beautiful daughter Anna.”

Bob said: “Jim’s a great friend and committed supporter of Willow.

“We’re very proud to have one of our founder patrons competing in such a high profile event on behalf of the charity.

“Every step he takes and every penny he makes really will make a positive difference to those living with the difficult realities of a life-threatening illness.

“We can’t thank him enough.”