Young explorer eyes polar record

Andrew walked to the South Pole in 2004

A Nottinghamshire explorer is aiming to become the youngest person to reach both the North and South poles.

Capt Andrew Cooney of Thurgarton will lead the first British Army expedition to the North Pole in March 2008 - if funding of £350,000 can be raised.

Mr Cooney, 27, from Thurgarton, became the youngest person to walk to the South Pole in 2004.

The journey will involve a trek of 700 miles (1,127km) across frozen sea ice for 60 days at temperatures of -40C.

Mr Cooney, a captain in the Royal Logistics Corps of the Territorial Army, is looking for five more members for his team.

The members will walk for nine hours a day, with eight minute breaks, dragging their own bodyweight in food and equipment on a sledge.

The team members will walk for nine hours a day

He said: "Fewer than 100 people in history have ever walked to the North Pole - more people have been to outer space than have attempted this expedition - it is a mammoth task."

Although it is 430 miles in a straight line, it will take more than 700 miles to reach the North Pole because of ice drift, he said.

"It is a lot colder than the South Pole - we are going in the springtime and will have temperatures down to -40C - which is three or four times colder than ice cream straight from the freezer," he added.

More than 160 Army personnel have applied for the trek but only five will be chosen to join Mr Cooney on the expedition.

Preparations include a fitness regime with running, swimming, cycling and a bit of gym work - as well as dragging a lorry tyre around a field for two hours a day.