PUPILS are working on a sculpture dedicated to Hereford's "Ghost Runner."

Supporters have long called for a statue of runner John Tarrant to be placed in the city.

He was known as the ‘Ghost Runner’ as he was never officially recognised by the authorities because he accepted £17 as a teenager boxer, which meant that the Amateur Athletic Association banned him from taking part in any races.

But John, who died from stomach cancer aged 42 in 1975, would often defy the rules and would turn up – and then win – the races he was barred from entering.

He even broke the world record at both 40 and 100 miles.

As a campaign for a statue has not yet borne fruit, pupils at an independent specialist school called Branas Isaf school located in Herefordshireare are working on a project to make a sculpture in his honour.

Teacher Sam Goodchild said: "I am delighted that our pupils have taken on the project and are producing the sculpture with the generous support of Nicky and Aaron Heath at Oldfield Forge in Garway.

"Our pupils shall be producing the sculpture over the course of this half term as an enrichment project."

The sculpture will be placed in Widemarsh Common, by the athletics track at Hereford Leisure Centre or on the city's sculpture trail.

Mr Goodchild was coached for many years by John's brother Vic.