ACHING and blistered but exhilarated - a Windermere family have arrived home after completing their toughest challenge yet.

Super-fit foursome Janet Lefton, her son Jeremy, daughter Michelle Rothwell and her husband Tom Rothwell endured searing temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius and erratic weather during the Marathon Des Sables - a week-long 160 mile run in the Sahara desert.

The gruelling task raised money for Brain Tumour Research, a charity close to their hearts following the diagnosis of a close family friend last year.

So far, they have raised more than £20,000 for the charity.

Janet, who completed the race in 54 hours and won't be able to walk for two weeks having suffered lacerated feet from the challenging terrain, said: "It was an unbelievable experience, extremely hard, but highly rewarding, especially having my family around me for support. We were the largest family group, and as I was the only mother competing with children, we got a special mention at the start."

Michelle, who completed the race in 41 hours alongside Jeremy and Tom - placing them all in the top 400 in a race that had 1500 competitors - said: "Although we set off at different paces, myself, Tom and Jeremy managed to stay together throughout the last four stages of the race, the encouragement and support from them and having the cause in our mind spurred us all on to the finish line and helped us through the pain barrier day-after-day."

Jeremy added: "My feet are killing me and I am exhausted, but it was worth it. For me it was far more mentally challenging than I'd imagined and the heat is a deal breaker – you just don’t know what to expect or how it will affect you until you’re out there, especially since I went from the office straight to the desert."

And Tom said: "I was both happy and relieved to cross the finish line - I think it will be myself and Michelle's last race for a while, however Jeremy’s now got the bug for ultra running and is already looking for his next challenge.

"One evening we had the opportunity to chat to fellow competitor, explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, he said it was the hardest thing he has ever done."

The longest single stage of the race was 57 miles long. Competitors were required to carry all of their own food and equipment, the equivalent of 9kg on their backs.

To sponsor the family visit their Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/family-in-sahara