An adventurer from Chichester and his team of explorers have won the first-ever race to the north pole.

Chris McLeod joined, Phil Ashby from Cirencester and Manley Hopkinson of Twickenham to travel 350 miles in just under 23 days to reach the magnetic north pole.

They were one of four British teams competing in the gruelling quest, which involved several close encounters with polar bears and coping with temperatures of -40 degrees Celsius.

The teams had to drag their supplies behind them on skis across deep snow and ice.

The race for the Wedgwood Blue Ice Trophy began in Resolute Bay, Nunavut, Canada, on April 9.

Tony Martin of Cirencester and former champion jockey Richard Dunwoody of London overcame a multitude of injuries, including a twice-dislocated shoulder, to finish second.

Organiser Jock Wishart, a member of the first team to walk unsupported to the Geomagnetic North Pole, said: "Their performances were quite amazing astounding the locals with the speed they were travelling at in the severe conditions, and setting a standard which will be difficult to beat in future years.

"The next Polar Race is in 2005 and entries are already being accepted on our website www.polar-race.co.uk for 'probably the world's toughest race'."