The competition has taken on an international flavour this year with entrants flying over from Italy to scale the heights of Snowdon in north Wales.

The lure of the 23rd International Snowdon Race has attracted a field of 450 runners from across the world.

The record for the Snowdon race is just over an hour

All the super-fit compeititors will run to Snowdon's peak and then back down the mountainside, facing obstacles as varied as the terrain underfoot to the risk of sunburn as they reach the summit.

Community offers support

The 10-mile course is a challenge in itself but the record for completing it incredibly is just over an hour.

During its quarter century history, the competition has built up a firm relationship with the local community, who turn out to offer their support to runners eager to make the ascent and weary-legged on the way down.

Local runner Colin Jones, with the advantage of a home crowd and knowledge of the race conditions, is looking to defend his title after victory in hot conditions last year.

It is the first major event on the mountain since the successful �3m fund raising campaign by the National Trust to buy Hafod-y-Llan farm from its owner Richard Williams, who had put in up for sale.

The National Trust Run, which included Commonwealth marathon runner Steve Brace, was amongst dozens of events that took place to raise the money needed.