A FORMER mayor of Usk joined the north of France in commemorating D-Day this month by taking part in a mammoth run through some of the locations where the historic landings took place.

Usk town councillor Tony Kear, 44, was one of 35 people who took part in the D-Day 44 Run on June 6, exactly 67 years after the Allies began their invasion of Normandy and just a few months after Cllr Kear ran the London Marathon.

The run incorporates many of the locations that served as the backdrop to the pivotal operation, incorporating the Utah, Omaha, Gold, Sword and Juno beaches.

Unlike city marathons, much of the D-Day 44 run route isn’t paved, with the route heading across slippery, muddy fields while brambles and crops threaten to cut runners’ legs.

To add to the challenge the run is 44 miles long, almost twice as long as the London marathon.

As the runners take part D-Day commemorations continue, with veterans out in force and enthusiasts in uniform with authentic war vehicles while Second World War planes fly over head.

Cllr Kear is expecting to bring in £1,700 for the run’s chosen charity the British Limbless Ex Service Men’s Association, having completed the run in 10hr 10min.

He has already raised more than £10,000 for St Anne’s Hospice by running the 2009, 2010 and 2011 London marathons.

“It was fantastic to have achieved something that most people would not even contemplate,”

he added. “I was very privileged to be there.”