As the BBC Bus team settled into a gentle day in Galgate, they were abruptly awoken, sorry, their senses were alerted, as a team of runners sped past. The group are running around Europe as part of the World Harmony Run, promoting international friendship.

Mark Thomas organises the UK leg of the World Harmony Run. He and his team mates, Janos Derekas (Hungary), Sankalpa Laklias (France), Arthur Schaefer (Germany), Mila Pisanova (Czech Republic) and Sara Panini (Italy) are running across the UK and stumbled across the BBC Bus in Galgate.

The European leg of the run started in Portugal in March and since then has passed through Spain, France, Ireland and Scotland.

The runners carry an Olympic style torch along the journey that symbolises friendship which is passed from hand to hand.

Janos Derekas was the man with the torch when they passed the BBC Bus. Janos had already run ten kilometres and was planning to do another ten.

One runner, Sara from Italy, had a navigational error earlier in the week when she ended running along the M6 motorway.

Mark says, "Luckily we had a fast runner from Scotland with us and she caught up and brought her back again, the police came to check but they seemed quite cheerful about it!"

Listen to Chris Thornley talk to the World Harmony Runners You need REAL PLAYER to listen

The run is due to finish in Hungary in October after passing through 45 countries along the way.

Follow this link to find out when the BBC Bus is coming to a town or village near you.

Have a look at where the BBC Bus has visited before with our A-Z of virtual tours.