A Cwmbran man has told how he left his home town to set up a business as a personal trainer in the parks of central London.

Phil McDougall, aged 35, now helps people keep in shape in the outdoors of the capital city.

He was born in Pontypool and grew up in Croesyceiliog. After leaving Croesyceiliog School he went to Pontypool College before becoming a student at Sheffield University and graduating in 2002. Phil run nightclubs and bars in Cardiff and Bristol until 2005 when he became a Royal Marine Commando.

After serving for six years he became a personal trainer and set up Commando Training Ltd.

He said: “I provide group and one to one training in London’s parks including Hyde Park and Regents Park. Business is booming. My clients include FTSE 100 Chief Executives, fitness models and actors.

“My immediate family still live in Croesyceiliog and I was recently back for my nan’s 90th birthday.”

The fitness expert enjoys running in and around Cwmbran during his visits.

“I generally visit once every two months and always do the same eight-mile run, which is the best one anywhere I’ve been in the world. I go from St Mary’s Church on Bryn Eglwys in Croesyceiliog to Coed-y-Paen and Llandegfedd Reservoir dam wall.

“I then head to New Inn and then the final straight mile back to Croesyceiliog and finish at the church.

“I sometimes run up to the electricity hut at the top of the hill above Upper Cwmbran. That’s the one that everyone in Cwmbran can see with the tall mast. It’s a short sharp sprint from the car park to the mast which leaves me unable to breathe or stand up, awesome. When I get back to the car park I finish the session with 200 snatches with a kettlebell while enjoying views all the way to England. It’s beautiful.”

Phil now lives in Kensington Olympia. Follow him on Twitter at @CommandoTrainin