David Hempleman-Adams is crossing Antarctica on a charity trek to the South Pole.

The Swindon-born explorer is leading a team which includes three injured servicemen – Cpt Adam Crookshank, of Devizes, and Cpl Robbie Harmer and L/Cpl Nick Webb of the Royal Dragoon Guards.

They are dragging sleds filled with food and equipment 140 miles across the ice, just as Captain Scott and his team did 100 years ago. The three soldiers are from the same regiment as Captain Lawrence Oates, who famously left the tent on the ill-fated expedition.

After acclimatising on the Union Glacier in Antarctica, pictured below, they were flown further south at the start of this week to begin the trek, with the aim of reaching the South Pole within 16 days.

The expedition aims to raise more than £1m, which will be split between Alzheimer's Research UK and Walking With The Wounded.

Also on the team is Olympic rower Matthew Pinsent and Malcolm Walker, the chief executive of Iceland supermarkets.

In his blog, Mr Hempleman-Adams, 57, who has been to the poles on 14 previous occasions, wrote: “Every year I say that I’m too old for all this – but here I am 30 years on still loving every second of it.

“The diversity of the group is brilliant. From 23-year-olds to 66-year-olds, soldiers to Olympic athletes to businessmen. But every single one of us shares a love of adventure, and we’ve gelled together incredible well.”

Cpt Crookshank posted: “Now then, it’s the fourth night on the ice, and it’s fair to say that it’s bloody freezing! We’ve covered just over 10 miles so far, a walk that would usually take about three hours at home but takes three days here!

“There’s been a very strong wind to welcome us, and a brisk -25 degrees has taken some getting used to.

Matthew Pinsent wrote: “The brisk winds are keeping us on our toes and swearing! There will certainly be a couple of us walking with dressing on our cheeks over the next few days.”

To sponsor the trek, visit footstepsofle gends.org.uk