CHILDREN at a Greenock school are set to benefit from a marathon fund-raising effort.

Glenburn School is planning to send many of its pupils on educational trips around the country.

And Telegraph reporter Eric Baxter is helping them by being sponsored to run in the Flora London Marathon on 13 April.

This will be his third year doing the 26.2-mile race for the Inverkip Road school, which teaches children with moderate learning difficulties.

He raised £1,016 in 2001 for a trip to Paris and £1,200 last year to help pay for new play equipment.

Head teacher Eileen McGeer said: 'It"s very important for our children to go on residential trips.

'We"re very grateful to everyone who has supported Eric"s runs over the past two years by contributing to school funds.

'The London Marathon has become an important annual event for us at Glenburn. The children are big marathon fans now and love to watch it on TV.' This will be Eric"s 23rd marathon and his sixth at London.

He said: 'Runners in the London Marathon raise a fortune for good causes every year.

'It"s the country"s most popular sponsorship event because of its terrific atmosphere and the fact that millions of people around the world watch the extensive TV coverage.'