Students head off to South Pole

The trek will take about 10 days

A team from a Nottinghamshire college are preparing for a school trip with a major difference.

The group from West Notts College are walking to the South Pole as part of their outdoor education course.

Two students and two staff are flying to Punta Arenas in Chile to start their polar trek on 22 November.

During the summer they trained in Norway for the icy conditions and also hauled 70kg tyres around nearby Sherwood Forest in preparation.

'Fantastic achievement'

The team includes Gary Dodds, 50, foundation studies manager at the college, Steve Bull, 35, a former RAF officer and head of outdoor education, and students Robert Dunn, 18, and Carl Alvey, 21.

It is believed Robert will be the youngest person ever to make the trek if he succeeds.

They will travel from Patriot Hills across 60 miles of ice to the South Pole - covering the last degree of latitude to the pole in the process.

Temperatures could drop to -40C and the trip should take about 10 days.

The expedition's patron, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, said the trek will be "a ground-breaking project and a truly a fantastic achievement for both college, staff and students alike".