UK-first tunnel marathon in D-Day bunker returns

Athletes are checking the batteries in their head torches and dusting off their cycle helmets for the second edition of the UK's only fully underground marathon.

Held in Portsmouth, the race sees runners head deep below Portsdown Hill into former Royal Navy bunkers, where the progress of Allied troops was tracked on D-Day.

The race was the brainchild of Sussex Trail Events, whose members were inspired by Germany's Kristallmarathon, held in a disused salt mine.

Runners will aim to complete 90 laps of the tunnel network, including some 65ft (20m) long sections that taller entrants are warned may require them to stoop - often.

With one of the tunnels completely unlit, head torches and cycle helmets are mandatory for safety reasons.

After last year's maiden race, Sussex Trail Events organiser Jay McCardle said it had been a success but added: "One person kept hitting their head and a few people showed me scratches on their helmets."

Last year's winner of the women's trophy, ultra marathon runner Laura Watts, described the race as "brilliantly bonkers".

Laura, from Bognor Regis, said it was the first marathon she had ever won.

"In 1944 there were 700 staff working underground here," she said. "I bet they never dreamed that, 80 years later, 100 people would be running a marathon in there."

Michael Burke from Haywards Heath took the men's trophy, completing the 91 laps in 3 hours and 42 minutes.

You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.