A NEW world record was set in Watford on Saturday when a former French Foreign Legion commando managed to carry the equivalent weight of rugby player Richard Hill, 10,000 metres.

Ciro Gallo, 43, from Hemel Hempstead originally intended to bear his burden for 100km, but a combination of injury and 30C heat forced him to stop just past the Hilton Hotel on the A41.

He said: "The heat was against me straight away.

"Then, when I got to the first hill, bam, the pain hit my back.

"Then later, my knee went and if your knee's gone, it's gone.

"I was worried that I hadn't put enough effort in but once my knee went I could go no further.

"It's still a new record."

Mr Gallo, who took on the challenge to raise money for leukaemia charity, The Anthony Nolan Trust, and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, permanently damaged his sciatic nerve, strained the lumbar region of his back and strained ligaments in his knee during the march.

He said: "I hope the knee injury is just temporary, but I don't know yet."

The total money raised by Mr Gallo had not been counted up at the time of going to press.

Mr Gallo was accompanied by five Royal Marines on his march, who assisted him during the one hour 58 minute march.

Captain Iain Sutherland, Colour Sergeant John Fletcher and Royal Marines, Ricky Flett, Colin Grant and Dan Graham took turns walking beside Mr Gallo.

The also motivated him by singing rousing songs and helped him with the backpack they had loaned him when he needed to rest.

Mr Gallo said: "The marines were superb.

"They were fantastic."

Mr Gallo who holds one other world record and has held a further three in the past is officially the man who has carried his own bodyweight plus 3.2 stone, the farthest distance in the shortest time.

He is already talking about his next bid for a record.