Bartender hailed a hero for sweeping snow from Boston Marathon finish line

A solitary sweeper clears snow from the Boston marathon finish line. Credit: Twitter/@PhillyIdol1017

A solitary sweeper, snapped clearing snow from the Boston Marathon finish line, has been tracked down after a social media search and hailed as a hero for his touching display.

Twitter user Philip Hillman first photographed the lonely figure, diligently sweeping snow from the Boston Marathon finish line.

He posted it online, and his friend started the hashtag #whoshoveledthefinishline in an attempt to track down the civic-minded sweeper.

His simple gesture captured the imagination of social media users across the world and the hunt was on to find the mysterious man.

His identity was finally confirmed as local bar worker Chris Laudani.

He told the Boston Magazine he did it out of love for the Marathon, and praised the emergency services as the 'real heroes'.