Cameron defeated in charity run

Mr Cameron was pursued by photographers through a river

Conservative leader David Cameron was beaten by three girls and a semi-naked man as he braved a cold and muddy charity run in Oxfordshire.

Mr Cameron joined competitors on the third Great Brook Run in Chadlington to raise funds for the village school.

The MP for Witney completed the mile-long course in just under 15 minutes, finishing 25th out of over 100 runners.

Afterwards, Mr Cameron joked: "Gordon Brown should come down next year and we could decide the election that way."

The race was won by Ben Chapman, 15, from Chadlington.

Another villager, Ric Yapp, who was wearing only a pair of black briefs, a red waistcoat and a Santa hat, also finished ahead of the Tory leader.

After hugging his wife Samantha and his three children, Mr Cameron said: "It was very cold.

Tunnel 'surprise'

"We had to crawl under a bridge and it was very muddy.

"But, you know, I really enjoyed it."

The race started at the Tite Inn, Chadlington, and wound its way through muddy fields before finishing back at the pub.

Adam Engberg, one of the race organisers, said he was pleased Mr Cameron had taken part.

"No-one told him about the tunnel they had to crawl through," he said.

"He was quite surprised by that."

All the contestants were awarded a medal.