A reporter from a regional daily braved the freezing temperatures to carry out football training in the snow – wearing just his boxer shorts.

David Blackmore, from the Eastern Daily Press, plays for a local football team on his news patch, Outwell Swifts, and when their match was cancelled, they decided to keep up their fitness by having a training session with a twist.

The team were due to play Ely City ‘A’ earlier this month in a Cambridgeshire Kershaw Senior B league game but the match was called off due to a frozen pitch.

Instead of staying at home in the warmth or hitting the pub, the majority of the squad turned out to keep up their fitness, with someone suggesting they strip off to their boxers and boots to train.

Some of the team are pictured braving the cold to train in their underwear.

David, who plays as a centre back, said: “When the idea was first mooted, I thought they must’ve been having a laugh because there was no way I was stripping off to train in sub-zero conditions.

“But after the first two took of their warm clothing, the rest soon followed suit, probably due to peer pressure, and we just carried on training – as you do.

“It was absolutely freezing but we got through it and the shower after training was probably the best I’ve ever had.

“I don’t think it will be something we will be trying again for, say, our warm up ahead of our next game.”

The Outwell Swifts were hammered 8-0 away at their last game and are next in action on 8 January.