A MILD-mannered systems analyst will be putting his keyboard to one side and donning a Lycra costume in an attempt to set a world record.

Peter Ryan, 37, will be joining 56,000 other runners in this year’s BUPA Great North Run on September 15, pounding a 13.1 mile course through the streets of the North-East, from Newcastle to South Shields, dressed as Mr Fantastic, founding member of Marvel Comics superhero team, The Fantastic Four.

While there are numerous world records held for completing a half marathon dressed as a cartoon character, or a piece of fruit, there is currently no world record for the completion of a half marathon dressed as a superhero, and Royston resident Peter is hoping to put that right.

To do this he will have to surpass the qualification time set by Guiness World Record, which is one hour, 20 minutes, two minutes quicker than his current half-marathon personal best.

He said: “Guinness World Records has accepted this as a record classification, but as far as I can tell no one has made the minimum requirement yet of one hour 20 minutes.

“My best is one hour 22 minutes, but I messed up the start on that race. I still need to run the race of my life to hit the qualification time, but I think it’s achievable.”

Peter, a systems analyst, at flooring manufacturer Altro, Letchworth Garden City, is running the race to raise money for PC David Rathband’s Blue Lamp Foundation, which provides financial support to emergency services personnel injured in the line of duty, be they police officers, firemen or ambulance crews.

He said: “I’ll be running for the Blue Lamp Foundation, raising money so that all our emergency services personnel can receive the support they and their families need if they are ever injured in the course of duty.

“All the emergency services are superheroes in my opinion. I thought I’d show them just how appreciated they are by running the race in fancy dress as Mr Fantastic.

To sponsor Peter, log on to www.justgiving.com/Peter-J-Ryan.