In pictures: Mud race sees hundreds take part

People taking part in the Maldon Mud Race, fighting the river bed and crawling their way to the finish line

Thousands turned up to watch and cheer on charity mud racers as they slogged across a 440m (1,440ft) stretch of riverbank at low tide.

The annual Maldon Mud Race in Essex saw Vicki Riley claim the title of fastest woman, while first-timer Joe Griggs was the first man to cross the finishing line.

Most people managed to complete the task, but a handful of straddlers had to be extracted by paddle boats and ropes as the tide started to rise.

Here are a few pictures of those plucky people, who helped raise some £40,000 for Essex charities.

The tide has gone out and they're off...

• As it happened: Live reporting from the Maldon Mud Race

• Watch mud race video on BBC Essex's Facebook page

Hundreds tooks part, some getting stuck, as they eventually made it to the finishing line

Unidentifiable and struggling to stay upright

Joe Griggs won the race as the first man to cross the finishing line - and only looking slightly muddy

Clean seems to be the theme to winning with Vicky Riley claiming the fastest-woman title

Huge cheers were heard for the last across the line, while four people had to give up as the tide was rising

She just might have ruined her costume

Finisher Joel Hicks, 46, from Leicestershire, was taking part in his 20th race

BBC Essex was represented by two presenters who were Maldon novices - Jodie Halford and Akylah Rodriguez

Some girls are muddier than others

Tea and a biscuit was served by Andy Munday, Halstead mayor and Linda Smith

Nick Spit travelled from the Netherlands to take part in this "crazy race" after seeing videos of it online, and wore his mother's gown (pictured before the race, needless to say)

And at the end , all they wanted was a hot shower, but had to make do with an open one and a long queue