A Dorchester runner proudly carried a baton through his home town in a potentially world record breaking relay inspired by the Olympic torch.

The Endurancelife Real Relay set off from Land’s End 10 days after the Olympic torch and has seen hundreds of runners pounding the streets night and day visiting all the communities the torch passed.

The aim is to complete the longest ever continuous relay as it covers over 8,000 miles.

Teacher Darren Orchard had the honour of running leg 569 of the relay, picking up the baton at Winterborne Whitechurch before running 12.5miles and passing it on at Top O’ Town in Dorchester.

Despite having to start before 5am and picking up an injury along the route, the 33-year-old completed his section well in time and successfully handed over to the next runner.

He said: “It was really good.

“I met the guys who had run it in the previous day from Stourpaine and I picked it up.

“I managed to pull a muscle in my leg quite badly but it was pretty important to get the baton to the next person so I just kept going.

“I managed to get it done, even though I was feeling the pain, with about 15 or 20 minutes spare.

“It was just such a great feeling to be part of something like that.”

Darren has focused more on cycling in the past rather than running, having twice peddled from John O’Groats to Land’s End.

However, he was inspired by the spirit of the relay challenge, which was set up by amateur runners with people signing up online to carry the baton as it went through their local area.

He said: “It’s amazing the way it has taken the enjoyment of running to another level.

“It was great to get to do a stage and to go through Dorchester.”

Each runner in the Real Relay has pledged a donation to CHICKS, a charity providing respite breaks for disadvantaged children across the United Kingdom.

The relay is due to finish in London on July 22.

For more details visit www.face book.com/endurancelife