Briton becomes first to cycle to South Pole

A British adventurer has achieved a world first after becoming the first person to cycle to the South Pole from the edge of the continent in just 10 days.

Maria Leijerstam, from the Vale of Glamorgan, managed the feat following a gruelling 805km ride in “vicious” conditions.

The 35-year-old set off from the Novo Russian air force base on Dec 16 and went head to head against two other riders, American Daniel Burton and Spaniard Juan Menendez Granados.