A scholar from the University of Oxford has set a Guinness World Record by completing the London Marathon while dressed in conventional university clothing.

Professor Alexander Betts crossed the finish line wearing a mortarboard and academic robe, completing the course in two hours and 55 minutes.

He claimed the record for the quickest male participant to finish a marathon while clad in academic attire.

His result bettered the previous benchmark of three hours 31 minutes, which was set at last year’s Berlin Marathon.

Afterwards, he characterised the endeavour as physically demanding yet intensely inspiring.

This represented Professor Betts’s 23rd marathon, and he has gathered more than £2,200 in contributions for Helen and Douglas House, a children’s hospice based in Oxford.

He explained that competing for a worthwhile local cause provided him with extra determination during the race’s closing kilometres.

Thirty runners represented the Oxford-based charity, which is working toward a goal of collecting £100,000 in total.

Julia Woodcock from Helen and Douglas House said she wished to express heartfelt thanks to all 30 London Marathon participants for their exceptional achievement.

Their commitment, enthusiasm and fundraising efforts had been truly uplifting, she noted. Together they were striving toward the £100,000 target, which would prove vital in allowing the hospice to continue offering care for local terminally ill children and their families during their most challenging periods.