Hundreds descend for Hampshire's Tough Mudder challenge, facing thick mud, electric shocks and filthy water!

CRAWLING through thick mud, a 15 foot leap of faith into filthy water and a final scramble in which you were given multiple electric shocks.

To most people it would sound anything but appealing – but for hundreds of people it was an endurance test like no other as they compete in Hampshire’s Tough Mudder challenge this weekend.

Matterley Bowl, just outside Winchester, drew people around from across the county and beyond to see who was the toughest mudder of all - in what has been described as Europe’s most gruelling course.

While some did it for charity, others took part just to get their hands, feet and even faces dirty as they scrambled over six foot walls, scaled a giant pyramid, and launched themselves into thick murky water before running across the fields of the South Downs.

A huge log matrix proved too difficult for some as they ducked and dived and climbed the grid. Adults of all ages jumped caverns and dug deep into the ground before running downhill to a specially-made wooden climbing frame erected over a grubby-looking watery pit.

There were 26 obstacles scattered throughout the 12 mile course, which included cargo nets, hay bales, 15 foot drops into water, mud pits, freezing cold lakes and the quarter pipe.

Some of the more challenging ones were even named. There was the cliff hanger, the fire walker and even the boa constrictor, which saw people crawl through tiny pitch-black tunnels.