MARATHON veteran and former town mayor Trevor Cope has expressed his disappointment that he won t be able to compete in his 20th London Marathon this year - breaking his hip and arm in two places.

MARATHON veteran and former town mayor Trevor Cope has expressed his disappointment that he won't be able to compete in his 20th London Marathon this year - breaking his hip and arm in two places.

For cllr Cope, Liberal Democrat member at the town and district councils and lecturer at Sidmouth Community College, he was hoping to add to more than the �25,000 in sponsorship he has already raised over the years.

The 54-year-old said: "I had a very unpleasant fall on Woodbury Common- I was fortunate to be with my son at the time and to have the help from large number of passers by.

"On arrival the medics were brilliant...and treatment within the Ward (Durbin at Wonford) was exceptional.

"So many people knock the NHS perhaps some from not having had first hand knowledge of their first class treatment of patients.

"Needless to say I will not be running the London Marathon this year, the first one I have missed since 1990.

"I want to thank all the people who have wished me well.