While most of the country wrapped up warm and tried to avoid the raging storms that swept the country last week, one fitness fantastic was pictured in the Echo bravely battling the weather.

Dean Johnson, 33, who runs the Personal Training Studio in Leigh, was photographed by Echo photographer Maxine Clarke while he ran through bitter winds along Southend promenade on Thursday.

After the Echo tracked him down, Dean - who is training for a Tough Guy ten-mile race - said: "When there were those gales I was really pleased because it gave me a good chance to get used to the cold.

"Just after the picture was taken I ran into the sea and was jumping the water breaks.

"It was so cold and the sand was blowing so hard into my face, but it is all good training."

The gale force winds which destroyed houses and cars as well as causing massive transport delays failed to deter Dean from training for the twice yearly Tough Guy competition which will be held on Sunday near Birmingham.

The ten mile race includes running through fire, crawling through Vietcong-type tunnels and wading through ice cold rivers.

Dean said he liked the challenge of what has been dubbed "the ultimate test of endurance".

"The race is really tough, about 50 people caught hypothermia last year.

"The water you have to run through is just so cold," Dean said.

Thousands of competitors enter the race which is held in January and July.

Dean said he has been in training for three months for the competition which he also competed last year.

He hopes to complete the ten mile course in about two hours.