A GRANDFATHER who recorded the fastest-ever London Marathon time for the over-65s has been disqualified, after it emerged he took a 10-mile short-cut.

Tony Gaskell, 70, crossed the finishing line in three hours and five minutes during the event in April.

The retired BT engineer, from West Kirby, was set to receive a plaque for his achievement until competitors questioned his super-fast time.

Marathon organisers disqualified him yesterday and crowned Colin Rathbone, 69, of Northwich, as the real OAPs’ winner.

Last night, Mr Gaskell said he dropped out of the marathon through injury after falling over another runner.

He said: “I have been called a cheat and disqualified from a race I never claimed to have won.

“I simply walked through a short cut to the end of the course where my belongings were waiting for me.

“I had no idea anyone thought I had won.”

This week, Mr Gaskell, a widower, is starting a 340-mile walk from Scotland to London to highlight the plight of grandparents struggling to bring up their grandchildren on just their pensions.