Doctor set for South Pole race

Ed Coats, Ben Fogle and James Cracknell make up the team

A Bristol doctor is preparing for a gruelling race to the South Pole with the television presenter Ben Fogle and the Olympic rower James Cracknell.

Ed Coats, who specialises in obstetrics and gynaecology, will make up the trio competing against British and Norwegian teams.

Each man will pull sleds weighing 70kgs (11 stone) for 692 kms (430 miles) in temperatures as low as -50C (-58F).

The team has been in Antarctica for two weeks training and acclimatising.

The race was due to start on 1 January but has been postponed due to bad weather.