LEIGH on Sea Striders’ Elisabet Barnes has again completed the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert, which is known as “the toughest footrace on earth”.

She did not quite manage to repeat her success of the previous year, having won it in 2015, but the 39-year-old still finished in a very impressive fourth place.

Striders running club also had 19 members take part in the Brighton Marathon, which is the second biggest marathon in the country.

Chris McClay was the first Strider back in an impressive time of 3:01.46.

Marita Neville was the first female back in a time of 3:51.04 and is also taking part in the London Marathon this weekend.