Two runners from Penryn were among those who braved the elements to complete a brutal ultra marathon at the weekend.

Tom Sopp and Amy Blackburn were among a field of 163 athletes who covered the gruelling 100-mile Arc of Attrition from Coverack to Porthtowan in 35 hours.

"Failure was not an option," said Tom.

"During another event last August, my dad was taken into Mount Edgcumbe Hospice and I was determined to do this in his memory.

"Only eight of the 18 to 20 beds that they have there are funded and for many people, it is their last step, so I wanted to give something back."

Tom and Amy, who have raised well over £1,000 for the hospice, admitted there were times they could have pulled out.

"Part of me was saying I had to carry on, the other part was telling me that there was a nice, warm car waiting to take me home. I pulled my groin during the race and my feet were shredded by the end," said Tom.

The 44 year-old enjoyed a pint of Tribute on finishing, before attempting to go home and sleep after finishing shortly before midnight on Saturday.

"I kept waking up with a jump because I was slipping in the mud - I think I had post-Arc syndrome," he joked.

Runners set off from Coverack on the Lizard peninsula at midday on Friday and followed the coastal footpath. Some places were impassable, which made the course longer than usual.

There were four check points at Porthleven, Penzance, Land's End and St Ives, at which competitors needed to arrive within a certain time to be able to carry on.

Tom, a member of Falmouth Road Runners, added:"It was really tough around the 'dunes of doom' near Gwithian and I swore at the wind on a few occasions when it got really wild on the cliffs near Portreath."

Only 52 of the 163 starters finished the race, with gold buckles being awarded to those finishing under 30 hours. Tom and Amy won silver for completing the course before the cut-off time of 36 hours.

Amy, aged 30, said: "There were times in the dark when I wanted to just curl up and go to sleep, but I couldn't. Finishing third has not really sunk in yet. I've just slept loads and eaten everything in sight."

The Mile High runner ran with Tom as far as St Ives, before pressing ahead in pursuit of a podium finish in the women's race.

She crossed the line in 34 hours 13 minutes, behind St Austell's Gemma Pateman and winner from Wiltshire, Maryann Devally, who completed the course in 32 hours 26 minutes. Steven Wyatt won the men's event in an incredible time of 23 hours 44 minutes, just 20 seconds ahead of Paul Maskell.