A RETAINED Firefighter from Hawes has ran the length of the Pennine way in just over six days to finish thirteenth overall in the Montane Spine Race.

The 268-mile course, also dubbed as 'Britain's most brutal race', is a non stop challenge from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders.

Matt Neale, aged 47, who is also a Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Ranger, set off from Edale in Derbyshire on Sunday January 13 and reached home territory- the Yorkshire Dales National Park-the following morning.

Competitors have one week to complete the gruelling race, which travels over hilly terrain and covers 43,000ft of climbing - more than Everest at 29,000ft.

The gruelling trail sees the racers run along the full Pennine Way carrying their own kit. It takes them through some of the most difficult terrain found it England, including; the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland National Park, Hadrian's Wall and head into Northumberland's Cheviot Hills before finishing at the Scottish Borders.

With no official stops along the way it's up to the competitors make stops if and when they need them but their rivals can keep going. Matt chose to have a six hour rest in his familiar town of Hawes, before carrying on with the race.

Matt finished the race at Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders on Friday January January 18.

“There’s too much emotion to try and describe it," he said "It’s quite overwhelming. What a great use of five days annual leave

"It was minus ten degrees last night and it was a spectacular morning to finish."

Jasmin Karina Paris, a national fell running champion who holds the records for the Bob Graham Round and the Ramsay Round became the first woman to have won the race and also 'destroyed' the record as she crossed the finish line in 83 hours, 12 minutes and 23 seconds- beating the previous record by 12 hours.