Olympic legend Ron Hill dies aged 82

Olympic running legend Ron Hill, has died aged 82.

The Accrington-based runner broke world records at four different distances and represented Great Britain in the marathon at two Olympics, Tokyo in 1964 and Munich in 1972.

He was also only the second man to break the two hour 10 minute marathon barrier.

He also won gold at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games, as well as winning many of the world’s leading marathons.

He became the first British runner to win the Boston Marathon and his final marathon was the 100th Boston Marathon in 1996.

Hill maintained the record for the longest unbroken streak of running every day, running for 52 years and 39 days between 1964 and 2017.

Hill founded the Tour of Tameside in 1981 - which began as a double marathon run in six stages and was later re-launched as a four day festival of running for runners of all abilities.

He was then made a freeman of the borough of Tameside in 2012.

He also gained a PhD in textile chemistry and founded clothing company Ronhill in 1970 which pioneered and designed new types of running clothes.

It had a shop on Market Street in Hyde and is still going strong, with its products manufactured at Redfern Industrial Estate in the town.

Accrington-born and raised Ron is also an honorary freeman of the borough of Hyndburn. He had been living with dementia.

His death was announced on his company Twitter account on Sunday, 23 May: