A Dartmouth-based Royal Marine has clocked up seventh place in one of the toughest trail races in the world.

Colour Sergeant Darren 'Daz' Handley was one of 60 competitors who took part in the Ultra Trail South West 100 – a 100-mile single stage endurance race which took place in Cornwall.

By competing in the day and night race the 38-year-old was aiming to raise money for the British Heart Foundation and Parkinson's UK.

CSgt Handley was one of 34 competitors who managed to complete the coastal path challenge which took him 27 hours and 12 minutes.

The Royal Marine, who is based at Britannia Royal Naval College, said: 'I finished the race with four blisters and two blackened toenails.

'Everything went well until about 70 miles when I started to struggle.

'I managed to get through this okay by eating and drinking a lot more and settled down until about the 85-mile point when I hit a wall that stayed with me until the end.'

The tough course was made up of 60 per cent coastal path, 20 per cent inland trails, 15 per cent road and five per cent open moorland, with a vertical assent of 5,250 metres throughout the course, each participant climbed the equivalent of Kilimanjaro.

Having joined the Royal Marines in 1993 and served in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, CSgt Handley now works within the Royal Naval Leadership Academy at BRNC.

An experienced runner, he has previously taken part in a number of multi-stage races and ultra marathons.

CSgt Handley was inspired to raise money for the British Heart Foundation and Parkinson's UK by his father Malcolm who recently suffered a heart attack and has now been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Anyone still wishing to show their support to CSgt Handley can sponsor him online by logging on to www. justgiving.com/Darren-Handley-BHF or http://www.justgiving.com/Darren-Handley-Parkinsons">www.justgiving.com/Darren-Handley-Parkinsons. Donations can also be made by text.

Text DAZH98 to 70070 to donate to the British Heart Foundation or DAZH99 to 70070 for Parkinson's UK.