Jim Pooley has won a date with television gardener Charlie Dimmock. But it won't be a romantic dinner for two.

Instead, the Gatwick technician will share Charlie with 39 other admirers who have been chosen to make up her team in the Flora London Marathon on April 14.

The green-fingered celebrity is swapping her wheelbarrow and trowel for tracksuit and trainers to help whip the team into shape.

Jim, 39, of Furnace Green, Crawley, a senior technician on the airport's Transit System, beat thousands of entrants in a competition to recruit 40 runners for Team Flora.

He is known throughout the airport for his athletic prowess and has raised funds for local charities by running the London Marathon twice, the New York Marathon, the Gatwick half-marathon and Portsmouth's Great Southern run.

He has also completed the London- to-Brighton cycle ride.

He said: "Charlie has been fantastic. She was so approachable and friendly and we got on really well.

"She was keen to hear about my experience in training and running a marathon - but I didn't get any gardening tips in return.

"Team Flora is made up of a cross-section of people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. I hope I achieve my personal best to run the marathon in under three hours."

Jim will be raising funds for Children with Leukaemia. He has already received £300 from the engineering department at BAA Gatwick.

Anyone wanting to contribute can contact Jim on 01293 504499 or Vicki Duggan on 01293 503173.