Adventuress finishes Polar trek in record time

THE first British woman to walk solo and unaided to the South Pole was said to be elated yesterday after finishing the trek in record time.

Fiona Thornewill, 37, had been battling fierce winds, clouds and bumpy ice on the last day of her Antarctic trek when “the clouds lifted, the sun came out” and she spotted the finish post.

The Nottingham recruitment consultant arrived at the South Pole at about 5.30pm local time (GMT) on Saturday having walked 700 miles in 42 days, smashing the fastest time of 44 days for walking or skiing.