Antarctica explorers in Pole position

Explorers Ben Saunders and team-mate Tarka L’Herpiniere have reached the South Pole - marking the half-way stage of their epic round the world trek.

The team are attempting to recreate and complete Captain Scott’s ill-fated Terra Nova expedition, which took place over 100 years ago.

The duo crossed the Ross Ice Shelf, navigated the Beardmore Glacier and skied across the Antarctic Plateau in order to get to the pole, which they achieved on Boxing Day – the 63rd day into the trip.

The expedition is being supported by Land Rover and is one of the most ambitious polar journeys attempted in the last century due to minus 46C temperatures and difficult terrain.

It took them 10 days to scale the 8000ft of the Beardmore Glacier on the way to the pole – a feat achieved by only a small band of explorers, including Ernest Shackleton and Captain Scott.

Once they have reached Scott’s iconic hut they will have to return by navigating the same route in the reverse direction.

As well as using their Land Rover support vehicles the team - who are expected to return to the UK by mid-February - have already covered more than 1000 miles on foot.