News

Helen Skelton, the Blue Peter presenter, has reached the South Pole in her latest challenge for Sport Relief and broken a world record in the process.

She finished the 500-mile trip, which she undertook by ski, kite ski and ice bike, in 18 days despite suffering from dehydration, blisters and a terrible cough.

The world record she broke was for the fastest 100 kilometres travelled by kite ski, which she did in seven hours and 28 minutes.

She said: "My body hurts in so many different places, mentally I'm exhausted and I've only washed once in the last 30 days, so to be finally standing at the Pole feels incredible."

Ms Skelton pulled her own supplies on a sledge weighing 13 stone and had a small team with her including Niklas Norman, the Norwegian explorer and crew from the BBC and a logistics group.

Sport Relief is a campaign designed to get lots of people actively raising money across the UK for the elderly, disadvantaged and young carers in this country.