HE will soon be able to call himself a double marathon man. Malcolm Smith, a 41-year-old businessman from Fair Oak, is planning to run in both the Paris and London marathons.

He could be chalking up a sporting first by running in two marathons within such a short space of time.

The father of two will be lining up for the Paris marathon on Sunday, April 10. And then a week later pulling on his running shoes again for the great race through the streets of London.

Malcolm says he is not an expert runner but just a keen and perhaps foolhardy amateur.

He said: "Normally you are supposed to leave three or four weeks before running again after just one marathon.

"My family think I am crazy but they are giving me 100 per cent backing."

And Malcolm says that he will be taking it easy between marathons. He has been training by running between 40 and 50 miles a week.

Since Christmas he has been keeping to a special diet, including lots of pasta, and has lost about a stone in weight.

Malcolm always wanted to run in the Flora London Marathon but knew it was hard to get a place.

That is why he applied for the Paris marathon. But he never expected to get a place in both.

He says: "I am not the type to turn down a challenge. I am going for it and I am now training and aiming for the double."

But he is also even more determined to clinch the double because funds raised through his sponsored runs will go to the Meningitis Trust - the UK's leading charity raising awareness of meningitis and septicaemia.

He decided to turn his marathon run into a fundraiser for the Meningitis Trust after close friends experienced the tragic loss of a young son to the disease.

Malcolm said: "I ran a marathon when I was 19 and all I remember is how far and painful it was.

"I am determined and I am hoping to raise a lot of money for a very good cause and I know that will spur me on."