Phileas fan travels world in 80 hours

AIR MILES Mark Paling A DAD of three has outdone his hero Phileas Fogg by travelling round the world in 80 hours.

Since he was a boy Mark Paling has dreamed of following in the footsteps of the character in Jules Verne’s 1873 novel Around the World in Eighty Days.

The retired game designer, 53, remained true to the story in just one way, by starting and finishing in London’s Reform Club.

The 23,902-mile trip, by plane, took Mark 77 hours, 53 minutes. His route took him via Los Angeles, Auckland and Shanghai.

He boarded four flights but only made it out the airport once – for a day in Auckland, New Zealand.

Mark, of Camberley, Surrey, who spent £3,000, said: “When I was forming my bucket list it went straight to number one.” AINTREE bosses have vowed the Grand National show will go on after vandals in a car tore up turf and damaged guide rails.

The yobs drove through a security gate and on to the world-famous track, leaving deep tyre marks in the grass.

But ahead of the meeting, which starts tomorrow, a spokesman promised: “This certainly won’t affect a fantastic three days in Liverpool’s sporting and social calendar.”

He added: “We are working closely with the police on this matter.”

Repairs have been carried out since the incident near the 12th fence at Melling Road on Sunday at 6.45am. A Merseyside Police spokesman said: “It is believed the damage was caused by a car driven on to the site. Extensive CCTV and witness inquiries are ongoing.”

VANDALS Bent rails and torn-up turf