Dave raced ahead in a television advert
A former Sunderland man was running away with success in a television advert.
Dave Hill, 44, was chosen as the man to star in a major new television advertising campaign which was being run by the Prudential insurance group.
Dave, whose mam Olive still lives in Sunderland, was selected from 15 runners to star in the advert which is being shown for six weeks on prime-time television.
Dave, who is a former Bede Grammar School pupil, left Sunderland in 1987. He is now married and works as a surveyor in Surrey.
The former Sunderland Harrier who now runs with his wife, Michelle, for Thames Hare and Hounds, said: “I really enjoyed doing the advert. It was shot over two days and I am quite pleased with the results.”
Part of the 40-second commercial was filmed at a real marathon being held in Birmingham.
The rest was filmed in the South Downs near Brighton, where Dave is seen running off into the distance.
Lindi Roe, of the Prudential, said: “The advert has been received very well so far. The main aim of it is to show people how important financial security is.”