A NOTTS man has smashed a marathon world record – just a week after breaking a half marathon world best.

Richard Whitehead, of Colwick, was born without lower legs or knees.

On Sunday he ran the Rome Marathon in just 2h 56m – eight minutes faster than the previous leg amputee record.

Richard, who runs on prosthetic limbs, had a sore on the side of his leg after breaking the world record for leg amputees in the Bath Half Marathon on March 15.

He said: "I thought I'm not going to be happy if I get to three hours and not break it.

"It was an awesome feeling."

This week Richard flies to Portugal to train for races in Boston, Chicago and New York and, as usual, will run in the Robin Hood half marathon.