A BORDERS athlete is hoping to smash a Guinness World Record by running a marathon dressed as Mr Potato Head – while raising funds for humanitarian charity Afghanaid.

Gala Harrier Bob Johnson, from Walkerburn, narrowly missed out on the record at last year’s London Marathon.

And now he has revived his self-designed, homemade costume of the Disney character in a second attempt to break the sub-five hour record and reach his £2,000 target.

Bob said: “I attempted to break the world record last year to complete the marathon in under five hours dressed in a home-made three-dimensional toy costume, but unfortunately fell short by 19 minutes.

"This year I am returning as Mr Potato Head and hope to cross the line in record time."

His large, colourful costume is made mostly from wood and weighs over 10 kilos.

It has limited space to move and with only an inch gap to see out of, water and energy gels have to be passed up from his knees.

As the costume is solid with very little ventilation, Bob has to endure high temperatures inside the structure and has to be tightly harnessed into it.

Dressed in the Mr Potato Head costume, Bob recently completed the MK half marathon in a time of two hours and 35 minutes, delighting spectators and other runners with his iconic and eye-catching attire.

Originally from Newport Pagnell he is a very experienced marathon runner with a London Marathon PB of two hours and 54 minutes.

And he has also competed races dressed as a dalek, Freddie Mercury, an ostrich and a two-man canoe.

Bob’s daughter Hannah will accompany him during the race to help him with the difficult task of eating and drinking during the marathon and navigating him through the many thousands of runners.

Bob added: “It is a great pleasure also to be able to raise funds for Afghanaid.

“The Afghan people have endured decades of hardship.

“Afghanaid works hard to provide education, water and sanitation services and community infrastructure projects such as hospitals, roads and bridges to empower communities and help them to shape their own development.

“Every pound donated will help relieve the suffering and hardship in Afghanistan and push us towards that magic time of four hours and 59 minutes."

Bob will run the marathon on April 22.

For more information about Afghanaid or to donate to the cause, visit Bob’s fundraising page at goo.gl/y1G8ht