SPORTS fans waited up to four hours to meet their hero.

Sir Roger Bannister, the man who ran the first ever mile under four minutes at Iffley Road sports track in 1954, signed copies of his autobiography, at Blackwell’s, Oxford, on Saturday.

The 85-year-old, who travelled from his North Oxford home with wife Moyra, said: “I wrote it so people could read it.”

The book, Twin Tracks, recalls how, when his record-breaking time was announced, the crowd at the track heard the words “three minutes” and their cheering drowned out the rest.

Keen runners Matthew and Leticia Olson, originally from Florida, brought their children Stephanie, nine, and twins Courtney and Spencer, seven, from their home in Brackley, near Bicester, to meet their idol.

Mr Olson said: “He is a legend. He shattered the record and inspired generations of all nations.”

But the first person in line was more interested in Sir Roger’s second, less well-known career.

After breaking his world record, he went on to pursue a successful career in neurology at Oxford University.

Nuneaton nurse Elaine Davenport, who waited from 10.30am, said: “Everybody remembers him for the sub four-minute mile, I admire his work in medicine.”

Twin Tracks is published by Robson Press, price £20.