IT IS hard to believe Newport man Anthony Dunn was once drinking himself to death.

The recovering alcoholic has now kicked his addiction and is preparing for two new challenges in his life, running Britain’s toughest marathon and being a first-time father.

Mr Dunn, 47, of Tudor Crescent, is preparing to run the Snowdonia marathon tomorrow which is his first competitive run in 15 years.

From 1987, Mr Dunn ran a mixture of more than 30 marathons and half marathons including the London marathon in 1988 but an alcohol addiction took over his life.

For ten years, Mr Dunn started drinking at 11am and was drinking six to eight pints of Stella Artois a day plus half-a-bottle of spirits.

It came to a head when doctors carried out a liver test and said his liver was on its way out with the nerve endings going in his hands and feet.

Mr Dunn said he got through it with the support of his father and partner Joanne Berry and has been off alcohol for two years. He simply stopped drinking on his own.

He said: "I didn't realise how bad things had got. I knew deep down I had to do it and by a miracle I came off it."

Ms Berry, 36, is now expecting his first child which is due on December 10.

Mr Dunn said he hopes to complete the marathon in three-and-a-half hours and is raising money for the National Autistic Society as relative 12-year-old Lydia Brown has autism.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Mr Dunn can call him on 01633 893395.