SHE'S in a hurry to get to Suffolk but she's also in a hurry in other ways.The 220k-a-year Suffolk County Council chief executive is no slouch over 42k (kilometres that is) as this picture shows.

Neil Puffett

SHE'S in a hurry to get to Suffolk but she's also in a hurry in other ways.

The 220k-a-year Suffolk County Council chief executive is no slouch over 42k (kilometres that is) as this picture shows.

Besides being a mother of three and high-profile council boss, The Evening Star can today reveal Mrs Hill is a top marathon runner.

Running for the Cambridge and Coleridge Athletic Club, her best time at the 26 miles (42 kilo-metres) of the London Marathon is an impressive 3hrs 3mins, little more than 40mins off world record pace.

She also notably finished 76th in the women's race back in 2003 at the age of 39.

Mrs Hill is now limbering up to take on the hot seat at Suffolk County Council after members yesterday voted to appoint the 44-year-old on a salary of up to £220,000.

County chiefs will be hoping she doesn't “pace herself” when she hits the floor running at Endeavour House.

Following concerns raised about the massive salary, leaders have heaped praise on Mrs Hill, saying she is the best person to deal with the many challenges facing the authority.

If her running record is anything to go by, Suffolk has certainly got a focused and determined individual for the cash.

Glyn Smith, road running team manager at Cambridge and Coleridge Athletics Club, said Mrs Hill is rarely seen by members besides at race events but is one of the team's top talents.

He said: “She very rarely comes to training sessions.

“I come across her when she's at races.

“Not everyone trains with the club for different reasons, such as working nights.

“There is a very small per centage of women who can do the sort of time she can.

“The bottom line is that for a woman to run around three hours is fantastic.”

It is unclear how her remarkable stamina will help her in her new role which could prove to be more 100-yard dash than endurance race if Suffolk County Council is abolished as part of a local government shake-up.

Should Andrea Hill have been appointed on a salary of up to £220,000? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.