MORE than 4,000 thrill-seekers descended on the outskirts of North Berwick to tackle fire, ice and mountains of mud as Total Warrior returned to East Lothian.

Participants in the gruelling race had to overcome more than 30 punishing obstacles over a 10km route around the Balgone Estate.

Competitors hurdled flames, climbed cargo nets, walked the plank, crawled under barbed-wire, clambered over giant A-frames, and plunged into 10 tonnes of ice cubes.

But they were able to enjoy a giant 30-metre-long water slide towards the end of the course.

One participant had travelled from Ethiopia to take part, while two holidaymakers visiting Scotland from New York also got in on the action, alongside hundreds of county residents.

Many of those taking part on Sunday, September 17 ran for charity, raising tens of thousands of pounds for a range of good causes, including Total Warrior’s official partner charities Leuchie House, Crew, and Royal Caledonian Education Trust.

This is the third year Total Warrior has been held on the 1,200-acre Balgone Estate and, for the first time, children were invited to get a taste of the action too.

Nearly 400 youngsters from East Lothian and beyond accepted the challenge posed by a specially designed 2km ‘Junior Warrior’ course, featuring 10 obstacles for six-12-year-olds.

In another first, participants in the senior event had the opportunity to become an Ultra Warrior by opting for a five-hour timed event in which they tried to complete as many laps of the 10km course as possible.