Charity sacks snail marathon man

A fundraiser who completed this year's London Marathon dressed as a giant snail has been sacked for not making enough money.

Lloyd Scott is well known from previous marathon fundraising exploits including completing the 26.2-mile course in a deep-sea diving costume.

He hoped to raise at least £100,000 for the charity Action for Kids at this year's race but managed only £20,000.

Scott, who was director of fundraising at the charity, crawled a mile per day around the course dressed as Brian the snail from the television programme The Magic Roundabout.

Sally Bishop, founder of Action for Kids, confirmed the board of trustees had asked Scott to leave the charity.

In a statement, she said: "He was given notice according to his contract with us, due to losses incurred in his latest marathon.

"Due to limited resources, like all charities Action for Kids must make sure that we make the best possible use of our limited funds.

"Our priority is always to our donors, and the children and families we support. So it is with regret we had to take this decision."

Scott, 49, said he was "surprised and disappointed" at the timing of the decision. He said he had raised more than £5m for charity over the years.

He told BBC Radio Essex: "The trustees made their decision just 11 days after I'd finished the marathon.

"I hadn't recovered fully and was unable to fulfil the potential of the event.

"I don't think it has been handled in an appropriate manner. Anybody would deserve to be treated better."

Scott is a former footballer who played for Blackpool, Watford and Leyton Orient. He fought off leukaemia more than 20 years ago.