Woman explorer sets South Pole record

An English explorer has battled her way into the record books by trekking unaided to the South Pole in the fastest time to date, it emerged today.

Fiona Thornewill, 37, arrived at the South Pole yesterday having walked 700 miles in 42 days, smashing the fastest time of 44 days for walking or skiing. She is also the first British woman to walk solo and unaided to the South Pole.