A COUNCILLOR is preparing to go the extra mile or 26 to brighten up a major shopping street in his ward.

City councillor Robert Nemeth is running the Brighton Marathon this weekend to raise money to improve the appearance of Boundary Road, Hove.

The Wish ward councillor has already raised £1,000 to pay for tree, bush and flower planters along the shopping street.

The Conservative councillor took up the gruelling fundraising challenge after Karen Young called on her fellow Hove residents to find ways to brighten up the street.

The money raised by Coun Nemeth running in this Sunday’s Brighton Marathon will raise funds for the Blooming Boundary Campaign which he set-up with fellow ward councillor Garry Peltzer-Dunn following the election in May.

Traders will also be contributing separately to the fund after the marathon while Portslade-based Mayberry Garden Centre has offered to supply the plants while volunteers from the Secret Garden Group at St Leonard’s Church will be overseeing the planting.

Cllr Nemeth will join up to 17,000 runners on the start line of the seventh Brighton Marathon which is expected to be watched by up to 150,000 spectators.

He said: “We felt that there was little hope of receiving support from the council for our local shopping street so we have wasted no time in getting on with raising funds ourselves.

“Residents have been amazing in donating and offering to assist with the planting and maintenance. “When the planters arrive, Boundary Road will be transformed in an instant.”

Mrs Young, from Portland Road, in Hove, said: “I put something on Facebook saying shouldn’t we do something about Boundary Road and Robert came back, it was lovely he got in touch and wanted to do something.

“We will be cheering Robert on, on Sunday.

“If you are a business and see one person improve their shopfront then it encourages other people to do something to bring the area up.

“We have one of the best Italian restaurants in Hove but not enough people realise that.

“We might not have Woolworths but we have Tesco, Boots, Superdrug and a whole lot more, people just don’t realise what is here.”

To donate visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/bloomingboundarycampaign.