A VICAR, a vet, a doctor and an undertaker are just some of the people from Portishead preparing to tackle one of the toughest events on the planet.

Reverend Jeremy Putnam has signed up to enter a team in to the first Tough Mudder event ever to take place in the South West.

Jeremy is hoping that he and his team will raise £8,000 for Portishead Church of England’s Embrace the Future campaign, which is raising £725,000 to maintain and improve St Nicholas and St Peter’s churches in the town.

The Tough Mudder challenge will involve tackling a hardcore 12-mile obstacle course designed by the Special Forces to test all-round strength, stamina and mental grit. With innovative courses and 700,000 inspiring participants worldwide to date, Tough Mudder is currently hailed the premier adventure challenge series in the world.

Jeremy is now appealing to members of the community to join his team for the challenge of a lifetime.

He said: “The team is coming together through lots of different links with the church and so far everyone who has stepped up to join the team has a vested interested in the community in one way or another. I think this says something about how special the people of Portishead are and I hope plenty more people will decide to join us.”

The challenge is all about teamwork and helping fellow team mates when it comes to difficult obstacles, so Jeremy is particularly looking for a fireman, a lifeboat volunteer or coastguard and a police officer.

The event takes place on September 21 and Jeremy and his team will be training regularly from the beginning of March.

Anyone interested in joining the Portishead Tough Mudder team can call Jeremy on 01275 844137 or email curate@portisheadparish.co.uk for more information.