AN ILKLEY community cafe has received a donation of more than £2,000 from a blind man who ran the Manchester Marathon.

Outside the Box was given the money by Richard Thompson, 54, who ran the race with his friend Mike Spence, 52. Between them they raised more than £2,170 for the cafe which helps people with learning disabilities to lead more independent lives by providing structured work experience and training.

Mr Thompson, who also has epilepsy, is a regular volunteer at Outside the Box where he helps with music sessions.

Speaking for the cafe Jenna Peel said: "We are so grateful for the fantastic donation from Richard and Mike and are so appreciative of the ongoing support that Richard provides to us. This donation will make a massive difference to the service we provide to our members."

Mr Thompson, from Silsden, has been blind since 1982. He works as a masseur but also volunteers every Wednesday at Outside the Box.

He said he was "elated" to have completed the marathon.

"It went really well," he added. "The weather was fantastic, the people of Manchester were cheering us and we couldn't have asked for better conditions.

"The longest distance I'd done before was 18 miles, and I was very proud of what we'd achieved, especially as neither of us would have described ourselves as runners.

He was accompanied and guided during the run by his friend Mike Spence, 52, a landscape architect who lives in Utley, Keighley.

"Mike was very good and full of spirit. He wanted to high-five all the spectators who were cheering us on," Richard said.

Outside the Box Café is run by the Ilkley Community Enterprise charity. It was launched in 2013, following a campaign which raised more than £100,000 and has become a successful community business. The cafe, on Bridge Lane, is open 7 days a week from 9am to 4pm