COMEDIAN Paul Merton joined a Lake District running club for part of his new series Paul Merton's Secret Stations.

The Have I Got News For You team captain joined Black Combe Runners for a training run after visiting Silecroft station, one of the country's request stations he is visiting for the Channel 4 series.

Black Combe Runners captain John Millen said the feature would look at how runners use the request station.

"Paul arrives as if he's just got off the train and he comes up Black Combe with us," he said. "He's a very funny guy, it's all staged so he wins the run and he's at the top with champagne as we all struggle up the hill.

"It was a beautiful night and it will look great on TV."

The Black Combe feature will air on Channel 4 on Sunday (May 1), starting at 8pm.