A battle between industrial communities and environmentalists in the polar regions is the focus of a book by MP James Gray.

The 95-page document, which will not be on sale to the general public, was put together to accompany the Poles Apart summit which took place in London last month. It was organised by Mr Gray, to bring industry and science closer together.

The book and conference came about after explorer David Hempleman-Adams called Mr Gray to ask if he would like to join him on a trip.

In the book, Mr Gray said: “When David Hempleman-Adams telephoned me one Tuesday and asked ‘do you want to go on an expedition to the Arctic?

“If so, I’ll pick you up at your house next Sunday at 10am. I thought he was joking. He wasn’t.

“Thanks to his initiative... a significant new element entered my life.

“There are those who want to make use of the Arctic for industrial purposes and then, on the other side, is Greenpeace, and they are not talking to each other, which seems to me to be silly,” said Mr Gray.

“They just seem to be sat in the trenches throwing stones at each other and it seems pointless.

“They need to allow industrial use of the Arctic while applying the strictest possible conditions. That’s why the book is called ‘Poles Apart’.”