A MARATHON runner braved temperatures of minus 29C to take part in one of the world's coldest races.

Kirsty Devonport, from Richmond, completed the circular 26.2-mile course at the North Pole, raising more than £10,000 for charity in the process.

The 31-year-old, part of a small group of runners, took just over six hours to complete the course.

She is donating the money she raised to blood cancer charity Leukaemia Research.

Miss Devonport said: "The terrain was unpredictable throughout. With each step, you didn't know whether the snow beneath your feet would hold, or whether you were going to fall.

"Having fallen three times in the first 4km, I knew it was going to be a long and tough run."

The run took place last week, having been delayed for five days after problems finding a runway long enough on which to land the group's plane.

Miss Devonport said: "We flew to the pole shortly before midnight the day before the marathon, meaning that we had no opportunity to sleep on the night before.

"The base camp still had not been built, so there was nowhere to get changed in or keep the food and drink that we needed to sustain us throughout our trip.

"Having already endured a delay, we were just anxious to press ahead with the race."

The intense cold caused problems with her rations.

She said: "The food and drink I had taken had frozen by the time I came to need it. This was especially difficult, because it had been 12 hours since my previous meal and I needed fuel."

"The sound of the echo of my footsteps rebounding from the ice was incredible, the 24-hour sun was beautiful and the whole experience truly memorable."

Miss Devonport is still collecting sponsorship. Anyone who would like to sponsor her can visit justgiving.com/kirstygoesnorth.