A man accused of causing the deaths of 10 asthmatics in his town said his Fun Run idea was "just a wheeze". The charity event was intended to generate publicity and funds for asthma sufferers in Acton, where pollution is particularly foul.
More than 200 people turned up to the fun run on Saturday - many of them asthma sufferers - and ten people died during the race.
Mr Charles Baker, who organised the event, denied that he was to blame for the deaths by making the runners sprint for three miles while being chased by rottweilers.
"It was a fun day out," said Baker, who previously got into trouble for organising a wheelchair race across a rope bridge that traversed a ravine.
Councillor John Peptalk spoke out against Baker, saying he was well known for his intolerance to disabled, gay, foreign or dark people. "We have tried to get the police involved on a number of occasions," said Cllr Peptalk, "but they just say they can't arrest a man for just trying to raise money for charity."
Baker issued an apology to the families of the ten who died in the race, and pledged to start a petition against the inhaler companies whose products failed to keep the runners alive.
He is currently planning a charity football match to raise funds for an anti racism charity, in which a team of white men dressed as gollywogs will play against a team of autistic prostitutes.
