Running for election took on a different meaning this week as Tom Brake MP finished an impressive third in the Westminster Mile for Sport Relief.

Despite the cold, about 40 MPs and peers swapped their suits for shorts and T-shirts on Wednesday to run the Westminster Mile in London's St James's Park.

Conservative MP for Monmouth David Davies was first to cross the line in a breathtaking time of five minutes and 29 seconds.

Willie Rennie, MP for Dunfermline and Fife West, just pipped his fellow Liberal Democrat Mr Brake by finishing in second place.

Mr Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, came home in a time of six minutes and 12 seconds despite the freezing temperatures.

He said: "Sport Relief is a great cause and I hope this will raise the profile of events taking place up and down the country.

“I was really pushing myself towards the end of the race but I was slightly disappointed with my run. It was extremely cold.”

“The aim of the day though was to increase publicity and raise the profile of Sport Relief.”

Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said the event "brought everyone together" regardless of their political colours.

Mr Sutcliffe, who took part in the race himself, said: "Hopefully it has inspired people to feel they can do it on 21 March."

Thousands of people across the UK are expected to run one, three or six miles for Sport Relief on March 21.

Since its launch in 2002, the campaign has raised more than £80m for disadvantaged people in the UK and elsewhere in the world.

Past fundraising exploits have included David Walliams' swim across the England Channel and Eddie Izzard's 43 marathons in 51 days.

Former England rugby player Kyran Bracken was on hand to give them their starter's orders.

Sport Relief's live BBC TV show will air next Friday on March 19.