DARTH Vader - aka York lawyer Stuart Hanley - is planning to take part in York’s Brass Monkey Half Marathon to help fund a new clinic in Zambia.

Stuart, who works at Minster Law’s head office in York as a solicitor and manager in the compliance team, will carry the Star Wars character's light sabre as he runs round the course on Sunday, January 17.

The 47-year-old from Clementhorpe, who has already raised £2,798, said he was a big fan of Star Wars, as were his two sons, and dressing as Vader seemed a good way to tie in with the new film, The Force Awakens.

"The Vader helmet is hot and has limited vision and hearing but it is 'only' 13 miles and worth it, if it helps raise vital funds for Build It, a fantastic charity which helps people in Zambia to help themselves in a sustainable manner," he said.

"As a father of two children, I wanted to try and help others have the same access to health care and in turn the start in life that they enjoy.

"When my eldest son was born at York Hospital, he had to be rushed to Leeds for emergency treatment and remained there for the first two weeks of his life.

"I was struck by the wonderful care he received on the NHS and the thought that had he been born in Kapiri he would not have had access to such care and vital urgent treatment."

The £160,000 project is being funded by BGL, Minster Law’s parent company. The new medical centre will consist of an outpatient clinic, under-fives clinic, HIV testing/TB clinic laboratory and pharmacy as well as a separate maternity unit.

Stuart is one of three of its employees who will travel to Kapiri in Zambia next year to visit the clinic, when they will meet local people who have worked on the project. They will also visit a school in Kabaka that was funded by BGL in 2014.