Watch designer Simon Benney, who lives near Burbage, is training for one of the world’s toughest races to raise money for medics who looked after his son following a road accident.

Mr Benney, who is one of the country’s top silversmiths with four royal warrants over the last ten years, has entered the Marathon Des Sables, a 151 mile run through the Sahara Desert in Morocco which takes place between April 1-12.

He will run the equivalent of six marathons in six days in temperatures that could top 40 degrees and hopes to raise £100,000 to be shared between SWIFT Medics and the Princes’ Trust.

His son, Todd, seven, a pupil at St Francis School in Pewsey, received severe leg injuries in the accident outside Marlborough Rugby Club last October.

He was crossing Frees Avenue between the rugby clubhouse and its pitches when he was struck by the car.

Doctors from SWIFT Medics, a fast response team of trauma-trained GPs, looked after Todd until paramedics arrived.

Todd, who has three brothers and one sister, was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol where he made a full recovery.

Mr Benney has already competed in the London Marathon.