TWO friends from Darlington are planning to complete a series of muddy challenges with the aim of raising £6,000 for charity.

Paul Bass and Craig Soulsby spent much of last weekend in a field in Oxfordshire, completing the first and second of 16 Tough Mudder assault courses.

Tough Mudder events are obstacle courses spread over 18 to 20km and designed to test participants’ all-round strength, stamina and mental toughness.

The pair hope to raise more than £6,000 for Cancer Research and the Alzheimer’s Society, by completing the punishing feats in a variety of locations up and down the country.

Now the first two are under their belts, Mr Bass, 30, described it as probably the hardest thing he has ever done.

Mr Bass, a construction company director, added: “We did one Tough Mudder last year and set ourselves a big challenge of doing them all this year.

“It feels good to have got the first two out of the way.

“It is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, I almost regretted it halfway round, but it was worth it at the end.”

To support their efforts, visit justgiving.com/teams/TMFR2014