Richard Pollins, who was born without legs, has raised more than £60,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association from a 40k walk around London over four days.

The ITV News programme editor took on the challenge in solidarity with his mum Vera, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2016.

Mr Pollins, 40, walks with prosthetic legs. He said he had been initially nervous as he had trained on his own and wondered if he would be “distracted by people talking to me. But in the end it was really helpful.”

On the concluding day, he set off from his synagogue, Belsize Square. Members joined him on the walk and their support had been “incredibly encouraging”.

He had to battle a gale crossing the Millennium Bridge, “which slowed me right down. I was swaying a bit. I thought it was quite funny.”

At the end, Mr Pollins celebrated with “a glass of champagne and a Danish pastry with my mum”.

The money raised, well above his target, will towards MND research. “They could be on the verge of an important breakthrough, which is very exciting.”

Mr Pollins had been touched by the messages of support from MND sufferers. “It has affected more people than we talk about.”