BLISTERING heat and thunderstorms failed to put the brakes on a Kendal unicyclist joining 356 walkers past the finishing line in the 40-mile Keswick to Barrow race.

Neil Pacey, 31, of Back Lane, Kendal, has taken part in the race many times on foot but this year decided to complete the challenge on a unicycle - and took only eight hours, 45 minutes.

There was a lower turnout of walkers, with only 435 at the start, compared to 853 last year, with organisers blaming a change in date.

The annual race is usually held in May but, because of the foot-and-mouth epidemic, it was postponed until this month.