A SHOP owner has completed a marathon dressed as a character from Harry Potter.

Oliver Dall, who runs wizarding emporium Oliver’s in Trafalgar Street, Brighton, walked the entire 26.2 miles dressed as the magical house elf Dobby.

The 30-year-old completed the marathon in eight hours, with Revolution Personal Training Studios in Stroudley Road, Brighton, allowing him to use its treadmill.

Oliver said: “I was going to just do the first bit wearing the Dobby elf mask, but I thought ‘well, people do the London Marathon dressed in crazy costumes, so I have no excuse really’.

“It was not that bad really, the only thing is the mask was a little uncomfortable and a little humid.

“Without going into too much detail there was a lot of sweat.”

The marathon is part of Oliver’s festive fundraising campaign to support Rockinghorse Children’s Charity.

He is also raffling a model of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with all the proceeds going to the charity.

Oliver has reached his £1,000 fundraising target, with people donating from right across the world.

He hopes that his fundraising will draw national attention to the charity.

He said: “The biggest thing is that if people are unable to donate because of their circumstances this year, they can share the fundraiser’s link and still feel like they are contributing.

“The nice thing about it is people haven’t thought ‘well that’s in Sussex, it doesn’t impact me’.

“People have taken the fact it’s for children to heart and it’s a really good cause.

“It helps to get the word out about Rockinghorse Children’s Charity, and while raising the money is obviously great, it’s more about the awareness.”

Rockinghorse chief executive Ryan Heal said that without continued support the charity could face an increasingly difficult future.

He said: “There is no doubt that this year has been one of the toughest we have faced.

“With so many cancelled fundraising events the amount of money we have been able to raise has been massively reduced.

“We feel indebted to the doctors and nurses at our children’s hospitals who continue to work tirelessly to care for and support their patients, so we are determined to keep going.

There is still a chance to join in Oliver’s Hogwarts raffle.

To enter, donate £5 via JustGiving and all the proceeds will go to Rockinghorse Charity.

For more information visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hogwartscastle