Stockholm’s streets rang with the cries of ‘Go Paul!’

After six months’ preparation, Paul finished his first marathon on Saturday in 3hrs 29mins 34secs and has raised £900 for Myton Hospice.

With a last minute sock-choice crisis overcome, he believes sticking his name on his shirt may have been his best move.

Paul said: “The crowd were all calling out my name. Every time someone shouted out my name I was waving to them and high-fiving kids and generally trying to enjoy the whole experience.”

But on the second circuit of the city’s streets he felt his speed ebbing away, and with it his goal of 3hrs 15mins.

Nonetheless he managed a sprint inside the stadium to the finish line to bring him under 3hrs 30mins.

Paul added: “It was a case of putting one foot in front of the other and praying for the stadium to come into view, but I still found I had to run round it first.”

Afterwards, Paul found he could not sit down and had trouble getting up and down stairs. Nonetheless he is committed to run the Two Castles on June 12, and says he will decide then whether to run another marathon.

With a Union flag beside his number and tannoy announcers hailing ‘Paul Okey from Great Britain’ as he passed, Paul says he can understand how some people get addicted.

He added: “It probably wouldn’t be quite the same in England, where everyone’s English, but I could see myself travelling round the world, doing a few marathons. The elation when you finish makes it all feel worthwhile.”