OLYMPIC Torchbearer Tom Tracey of Greenock has raised an Olympic year figure for charity.

He collected �2,012 for the Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) by running the Edinburgh Marathon.

This was the former maths teacher's 48th marathon and the fifth time he has run for CHAS, for whom he has now raised a total of �8,422.

Tom, 59, was chosen to carry the Olympic torch through Beith because of his long involvement with athletics in Inverclyde.

The Inverclyde Athletic Club member raises money for CHAS because his wife, Carol Ann, is a registered childminder and she knows a family who have lost a child through Batten disease, which affects the nervous system.

Tom, who is now full-time Inverclyde secretary of the EIS teachers' union, has run the London Marathon seven times and this was his 10th in Edinburgh, which he finished in four hours and 54 minutes.

His training this year has been hampered by a calf injury, which put him out of action for almost six weeks, and a poisoned ankle, which cost him another fortnight of training.

And it was also very warm on the day of the race in May.

His fastest time was at Inverclyde in 1990 when he missed the three hour mark by only two minutes, and he did 3.06 in London five years later.

Tom said: "I wasn't fully fit for the Edinburgh race this year, but I was determined to do it to raise money for such a good cause."

CHAS West of Scotland fundraiser, Nicola Gunn, said they were very grateful to Tom for his generous donations over the years.

She said: "Tom really has done an incredible amount of hard work for CHAS."

Tom asked that the latest donation should be used for CHAS's Robin House Hospice in Balloch.

He said: "A lot of the money raised this year was from tablet made by my wife, Carol Ann, and we also organised a bingo/jewellery/raffle night where 46 people managed to donate an incredible �510.

"I'd like to thank everyone who has been so generous."