Diving suit man Lloyd Scott begins Olympic marathon course run
A fundraiser barred from taking part in London Marathon in a deep-sea diving suit has begun his attempt to complete the Olympic Marathon course.
Lloyd Scott, who first donned the 130lb (59kg) suit in 2002, started the stunt on The Mall at 09:30 BST.
He plans to cover four to five miles a day and hopes to cross the finish line on 2 June, on the Queen's Jubilee.
This marathon will be his last but will also mark the 10th year since his first 'Deep Sea Diving Suit Marathon'.
Mr Scott, who is raising funds and awareness for The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, was flagged off at the starting line by Sir John Major, chair of the trust.
'Olympic record holder'
The runner was not allowed to run the London Marathon in the diving suit.
This year the rules were changed and competitors were told they had to finish on race day.
Ahead of his Olympic course attempt, Mr Scott said: "It is an incredible honour to undertake this marathon on behalf of the Trust, to raise the awareness and the necessary funds to support and promote the work of the Trust across the Commonwealth.
"To be able to represent the most respected, and most loved woman in the world, is a great privilege."
On being the first person to complete the Olympic route, he said: "It will be rather funny, until the actual Olympic marathons are run; I will be the Olympic course record holder, with a time of about six days."
The Olympic route encompasses one small and three larger laps around central London taking in famous landmarks such as Trafalgar Square, St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London.