THE adventure of a lifetime awaits Derek McCord, who won an Earthwatch Millennium Award to study carnivores in the Argentinian Pampas.

Mr McCord, from Chippenham, will carry out research with environmental charity Earthwatch, alongside their leading scientists.

The project aims to gather information on four little-known carnivores from the area the pampas fox, the hog-nosed skunk, Geoffroy's cat and the weasel-like grison.

"The impact of intense farming and public use of the countryside is, to a greater or lesser degree, global and the unique opportunity to assist an international research team study this change on these predators is a real privilege," he said.

Mr McCord has been a keen mountaineer all his life.

He spent his working life as an electronic engineer, before taking early retirement.