CHAMPION charity fundraiser Mike Crannage is attempting to step out of the shadows by standing for election in Norton after spending the past 13 years as the official mayoral attendant.

Mike, from Quarry Bank, retired from his position in January - a role which was strictly non political.

But during that time, he helped raise plenty of funds for the Mayor's charity.

He has already done dog sledging in the Arctic, gone coast-to-coast in Costa Rica and run 155 miles across the Sahara Desert in six days, all to raise funds for good causes.

And whatever the outcome on Thursday, Labour Party member Mike already has other challenges lined up.

He said: "I've always been community-minded, but because of my previuous job, I couldn't be politically active.

"I've done lots of work for the Mayor's charity and I have another challenge in mind - probably the last big one I will do."

Mike, who is no stranger to a challenge, is proposing to run from Fort William to Dudley, a total of 535 miles.

He explained: "There are monuments to Bert Bissell at both venues and I thought it would be good to run from Fort William to Dudley.

"I will be trying to arrive in Dudley on Black Country Day. But with so much going on at the moment, it's likely to be next year.

"I've already got a couple of Dudley charities in mind that I would like to raise funds for."

In the meantime, Mike won't have time to rest. He gets married on Saturday May 16 at Dudley Register Office.

Also standing in the local election in Norton is Pam Archer (Green Party), Vic Hanson (Lib Dems), Heather Rogers (Conservative Party) and David Powell (UKIP).