SWINDON-born explorer David Hempleman-Adams has successfully led a team to the South Pole.

The group, which includes Captain Adam Crookshank, a wounded soldier from Devizes, as well as two other soldiers wounded in action and Olympic rower Matthew Pinsent, arrived today at 12.20am GMT.

The aim of the expedition was to follow Scott and Oates expedition a 100 years ago and walk 140 miles to the South Pole pulling their own sleds with food and equipment and to raise £1m for Walking With the Wounded and Alzheimer's Research UK.

The expedition, which was led by David along with Justin Packshaw, left the UK on November 19 and on November 23 arrived at Union Glacier for a few days training before flying to the Polar Plateau to endure 17 days of arduous treking.

Speaking from the South Pole David said: "I am delighted to inform you that the 'Iceland, In the Footsteps of Legends Expedition' successfully reached the South Pole at 00.20 on the December 11, 2012.

"All members of the expedition are safe and in good spirits. It has been a tough trip but feel very proud how everyone has coped with the trip.

"This year it was very windy, lots of sastrugi-mounds of ice, which we had to climb over, with bright blue skies and 24 hour daylight. These conditions meant that we arrived 3 days late at the Pole."

Captain Adam Crookshank was blown up by a mortar and suffered facial scaring and shrapnel in both arms.

After this expedition Captain Adam Crookshank will be returning to active service in Afghanistan.

The expedition has had the royal seal of approval from Prince Charles who wrote to them saying he was extremely proud of what these soldiers wounded in Afghanistan are attempting to do and that 'In the footsteps of legends' will raise awareness of the debt we owe to those who fight for this country.

For more information log on to http://icelandfoundation.squarespace.com/the-challenge/