‘RIVER rats’ turned a town into their urban playground which ended with them walking the plank of the only full-size replica of a Captain James Cook vessel in the northern hemisphere.

The 10k urban adventure course, Stockton River Rat Race, returns to Stockton's Riverside for its fifth year today (Sunday, August 24) with around 1,000 daredevils taking part

The contest was won by Jack Page who had the fastest time of 51.45, followed by Merlin Duff in 52.32 and Roger Davies in 53.01.

The quickest woman was Nicola Kent who finished in eighth place overall with a time of 55.25, the second woman to complete the gruelling challenge was Kay Neesam in 57.14 followed by Joanna Ballantyne in 58.24.

They were challenged to kayak down the Tees, battle over assault courses, run across the Infinity Bridge, tackle the white water course at the Tees Barrage without a canoe before walking the plank off the replica of HMS Bark Endeavour.