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In pictures: Mud race sees hundreds take part

Lewis AdamsBBC News, Essex, Maldon Mud Race
News imageChris Radburn/BBC People in fancy dress and none taking part in the Maldon Mud Race, across the River Chelmer, fighting and crawling their way to the finish lineChris Radburn/BBC
People taking part in the Maldon Mud Race, fighting the river bed and crawling their way to the finish line

Thousands turned up to watch and cheer on charity mud racers as they slogged across a 440m (1,440ft) stretch of riverbank at low tide.

The annual Maldon Mud Race in Essex saw Vicki Riley claim the title of fastest woman, while first-timer Joe Griggs was the first man to cross the finishing line.

Most people managed to complete the task, but a handful of straddlers had to be extracted by paddle boats and ropes as the tide started to rise.

Here are a few pictures of those plucky people, who helped raise some £40,000 for Essex charities.

News imageChris Radburn/Fixedpoint Media A group of about 100 people run down the mud into the River Chelmer estuary. Boats on the mudflats and buildings are in the background. Chris Radburn/Fixedpoint Media
The tide has gone out and they're off...
News imageLewis Adams/BBC Man covered from head-to-toe in mud. Lots of people behind him can be seen making their way across a very muddy river estuary.Lewis Adams/BBC
Hundreds tooks part, some getting stuck, as they eventually made it to the finishing line
News imageChris Radburn/Fixedpoint Media A woman lies face down in the mud, seemingly struggling to move forward. Another figure is knee-deep in mud behind her.Chris Radburn/Fixedpoint Media
Unidentifiable and struggling to stay upright
News imageLewis Adams/BBC Joe Griggs holds up his prize - a silver plate - and is wearing a medal. Behind him is the muddy estuary at high tide.Lewis Adams/BBC
Joe Griggs won the race as the first man to cross the finishing line - and only looking slightly muddy
News imageLewis Adams/BBC Vicki Riley smiles as she holds up her medal. She wears a sweatshirt and around her are onlookers.Lewis Adams/BBC
Clean seems to be the theme to winning with Vicky Riley claiming the fastest-woman title
News imageLewis Adams/BBC A man in a wetsuit coated head to toe in mud gives a thumbs up at the finish lineLewis Adams/BBC
Huge cheers were heard for the last across the line, while four people had to give up as the tide was rising
News imageChris Radburn/Fixedpoint Media A woman with a pink-feathered head-dress is visible over the bank of the estuary. She has her arms bent at the elbows and outstretched at her sides with her palms facing upwards. A stretch of water is visible between the mud in the foreground and the bank in the background. There are about 20 other mud racers visible.Chris Radburn/Fixedpoint Media
She just might have ruined her costume
News imageLewis Adams/BBC Joel Hicks has a face full of mud. it's stuck in his beard and hair and on his teeth.Lewis Adams/BBC
Finisher Joel Hicks, 46, from Leicestershire, was taking part in his 20th race
News imageLewis Adams/BBC BBC Essex presenters, Jodie Halford and Akylah Rodriguez cheer after making it through the mud. Jodie is particularly splattered.Lewis Adams/BBC
BBC Essex was represented by two presenters who were Maldon novices - Jodie Halford and Akylah Rodriguez
News imageChris Radburn/Fixedpoint Media A woman covered in mud being held by the hand by a man who is helping her up a grassy river bank. The water and mud of the estuary is in the background... as are boats on the mud and buildingsChris Radburn/Fixedpoint Media
Some girls are muddier than others
News imageLewis Adams/BBC Andy Munday, the Mayor of Halstead, wearing a tea cup costume, with Linda Smith, dressed in a biscuit costume.Lewis Adams/BBC
Tea and a biscuit was served by Andy Munday, Halstead mayor and Linda Smith
News imageMatt Mackay/BBC A man smiling, dressed in a white dress with red flowers, with his thumbs upMatt Mackay/BBC
Nick Spit travelled from the Netherlands to take part in this "crazy race" after seeing videos of it online, and wore his mother's gown (pictured before the race, needless to say)
News imageLewis Adams/BBC Hundreds of muddy racers queue for an outdoor showerLewis Adams/BBC
And at the end , all they wanted was a hot shower, but had to make do with an open one and a long queue

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