ONE of Britain’s most gruelling races is being attempted this month by Exmoor Search and Rescue Team’s (ESRT) Richard Sansbury to raise funds for the mountain rescue charity.

Mr Sansbury has one of only 30 places in the 160-mile, four-and-a-half days and nights run along the Pennine Way.

The race starts at 6 pm on January 11 in Hardraw, North Yorkshire, and should finish 108 hours later at 6 am on January 16 in Kirk Yetholm, in the Scottish Borders.

The event, which is part of the Montane Winter Spine, is only open to members of mountain rescue teams.

Despite being a ‘super fit’ ESRT team member, Mr Sansbury has been undertaking some serious training in the past two months.

Mr Sansbury said: “My final long training ‘run’, I did the 51-mile Coleridge Way to test my readiness for long stages.

“I had to walk most of it, so it took 17.5 hours.

“Started and finished in the dark and rain, but it was a fine day in between.”

During the event Mr Sansbury will face nighttime temperatures dropping as low as minus 10 degrees, with the days being between zero and 10 degrees.

He will climb a total of 17,355 feet (5,290 metres) and descend 18,343 feet (5,591 metres), crossing some of the most beautiful but difficult terrains in Britain, including the Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland National Park, Hadrian’s Wall, and the Cheviots, with daylight lasting just eight of each 24 hours.

A spokesperson for the event said: “This race is for those who wish to test themselves and compete in a truly demanding race.

“It is not just the ferocity of the British winter against you, your own body and mind will become your biggest battle.”

ESRT costs about £50,000 a year to operate and has a GoFundMe page for donations.