SAINTS player Martin Cranie paid a special visit to a Hampshire school in support of its marathon fundraising efforts.

The Southampton FC defender turned up at Brookfield Community School in Sarisbury Green to cheer on pupils who have been running a mile each week to clock up a 26-mile Cranie-arathon in aid of Cancer Research UK.

The 300 youngsters aged between 11 and 16 have been working up a sweat at the school every Friday afternoon for the past ten weeks.

PE teacher David Fawcett organised the event. He said the charity was a cause close to his heart after his mother Mary died from cancer in 1998. Mr Fawcett said: "We are delighted Martin Cranie gave up some of his free time. It has been a real boost for the children."