Intro:

300 mud-lovers gathered in Essex for the annual Maldon Mud Race - watched by 15,000 spectators.

Script:

If they've rented these outfits I'm not sure they'll be getting their deposit back. That's because they were about to take part in the Maldon Mud Race where 300 people race 400 metres over the bed of the River Blackwater.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Derek Lang, Chelmsford Sub Aqua Club (on advice to racers):

"You're well stuck if you find the bottom of the mud. You've got to keep on the top of it really. And we always tell the competitors "try and keep on the fresh mud." Not easy if you've got three hundred of them running round the course."

And it gets tough, really tough. But after a couple of wobbles, this wally managed to reach the other side faster than anyone else...

SOUNDBITE: (English) Bill Suggitt, winner:

"I've still got my hat on so I'm quite happy. My hat is still on. My legs have gone to jelly. But it's quite nice, a nice bit of mud."

It wasn't so nice for some of the others though, this clown wasn't having much of a laugh and this chap must have been thinking why on earth did I agree to do this.