A group of Kent-based runners took on a gruelling event in the heat of the Sahara Desert, flying the flag for the county in 50k and 100k races.

Ben Nestel, from Bearsted, Glenda Sokolow and husband Michael, who live near Sandwich, and Carl Wickham-Downes, from Maidstone, were among 305 entrants representing 27 nations at the Ultra Mirage El Djerid in Tunisia last Saturday.

Nestel, 26, was fastest Brit in the 50k event - finishing 27th overall - with a time of 5hr36min21sec in what was his first attempt at the challenge.

He spoke of his relief to have finished, but soon turned his attentions to next year's race.

“I’m very relieved, it’s been a long time spent training," he said.

“It’s a pretty long run, so I’m glad it’s over. But I’ll be back next year - if the girlfriend will let me!”

Glenda Sokolow was also taking part for the first time and completed the race in 7:41.04.

Wickham-Downes entered after a two-year absence, but illness forced him to withdraw during the race, which was won by Tunisia’s Walid Mrad in 3:26.31.

In the 100k race, two-time finisher Michael Sokolow, 59, was forced to pull out after 75k, also through illness.

However, like Nestel, he aims to return next year, calling the race "something special".

“The conditions today were perfect, which makes not finishing even more painful,” he said.

“But this race is something special, the desert is amazing. For a runner to be out there is incredible.

“I’ll almost certainly be back next year.”

Algeria's Abdelbasset Elhamel won the 100k race in 8:29.13.