A six-strong team of brave Essex Chronicle staff took part in this year's Maldon Mud Race, raising more than £1,100 for charity.

They were among 180 competitors who ran, swam and crawled their way through Maldon's glorious mud over a 400-yard course, at times finding themselves grappling along on their bellies through the stinking quagmire, arms and legs sinking into the ooze.

The daring team consisted of news editor Matt Adams, sub-editors Matthew Devonport and Chris Manning, reporters Emily Parsons and Anne Fitzgerald and display advertisement manager Susan Ringrose.

This was the first time a team from the Essex Chronicle has taken part in the race, and they performed admirably, coming a respectable almost-last and raising more than £1,100 in sponsorship for the Chronicle's chosen charity for 2004, the New Farleigh Hospice Appeal.

News editor Matt said: "It was horrible - the worst thing I have ever done!

"You think it's going to be easy just running through some mud, but we were near the back and by the time we got there it was all churned up.

"It took ages and by the time we got through the first part we could hear the commentator shouting 'and the winner is...' which was quite disheartening.

"The mud smelt very unpleasant and it took ages to get off our clothes. It was quite an achievement but I wouldn't ever do it again."

Organised by The Lions and Rotary Club of Maldon, the 31-year-old event saw around 6,000 spectators come to cheer on the courageous and the foolish, raising £4,400 from the gate alone.