A marathon runner is selling his body - in the nicest possible sense.

Ray Gurvitz, 47, from Elstree, will be taking part in the Tel Aviv Marathon at the end of the month and has elected to fund-raise for Jewish Care by selling advertising space on his arms, legs and face.

Sponsors can pay between £100 and £1,000 to feature on Mr Gurvitz's body and running apparel.

"This will be my fifth marathon," he said. "There are only so many times you can ask the same people to keep sponsoring you, so I wanted an alternative and fun idea which would appeal to a wider audience.

"I read an article about a guy selling advertising space on his body in the United States and I thought this would be a great and novel approach." As a sales director, he says he was "always looking for USPs - something unique to attract the appropriate attention and stand out from the crowd.

"My focus is on raising money for Jewish Care and being able to give back to the community and to people less fortunate than myself."

He has so far raised £1,500 in general sponsorship and has a minimum overall target of £2,500.

Mr Gurvitz chose Jewish Care because of its ongoing support for his elderly parents. His father is a resident at the Ella and Ridley Jacobs home in Hendon. His mother is a regular attender at the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl campus in Golders Green.

He hopes to run three more marathons for different charities by the end of the year.