A POLICE officer in Greenock is going the extra mile for charity - by running the London Marathon.

Constable Kirsty Boyd, who is the liaison officer for schools and residential units in Inverclyde, hopes to help charity through her exploits.

The mum-of-two is aiming to raise £2,000 for CLIC Sargent - a cancer charity for children and young people.

The 46-year-old said: "CLIC Sargent as the charity does an awful lot of good work with teenagers and children.

"As I'm in the schools working with young people I thought it made sense to run for that charity.

"I'm overwhelmed by how much people are supporting me with this.

"The guys in work have been brilliant and the high schools, primary schools, nurseries and residential units are right behind me too."

PC Boyd says many of the schools she visits are also helping her train up for the mammoth run.

She added: "Whinhill Primary and St Francis' Primary have taken me on as a training buddy.

"I've been doing some work with them so they have been letting me train with them, doing things like cross country which has been great."

Recently, PC Boyd was put through her paces at a training session with primary seven pupils at Whinhill Primary School.

Pupil Lewis McGhee, 12, said: "Kirsty has really inspired me to run.

"She has been very helpful to the school so we are happy to support her.

"She has come in so lots of times to do talks with us and we are doing a crime topic so she came in to help us."

As well as the support from local schools, PC Boyd also revealed the secret weapon which makes her run faster.

She added: "It's a Tunnock's teacake!

"I usually treat myself to one at the end of a long run.

"My work colleagues have also been looking out for me on my long runs and usually give me Mars bars and Lucozade."

The pupils at Whinhill Primary also managed to raise £225 to help Kirsty's sponsorship total after they held a 'come as you please' day.

PC Boyd says the marathon on Sunday April 22 will be a bit of a family affair as she sister Sally is also running and their families are travelling down to cheer them on.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Constable Boyd can do so online by going to the Virgin Money Giving website and searching Kirsten Boyd.