DUDLEY’S mayor will don the tights and cape of iconic borough figure Black Country Mon as he runs 13-miles around Birmingham.

Councillor Steve Waltho will pound the streets of the second city on October 18 – dressed as the popular local hero – as he takes part in the Great Birmingham Run.

The Kingswinford resident will be joined by a team of runners, also dressed as the character, in aid of his five mayoral charities.

Cllr Waltho, Mayor of Dudley, said: “Black Country Mon is a hugely popular figure thanks to the Black Country Festival and I’m sure it will help motivate all of us to complete the course and raise money for charity.”

The mayor will be joined by Ian Marrey, one of the organisers of the Black Country Festival and originator of Black Country Mon, in costumes donated by Holden’s Brewery.

To donate to the mayor’s cause visit mydonate.bt.com/charities/mayorofdudleyscharities, or to donate to Ian visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/blackcountrymon