Two British women who entered the record books by walking to both the North and South Poles have returned to the UK.

Mother-of-triplets Ann Daniels, 35, and film financier Caroline Hamilton, 37, arrived at Heathrow Airport on Friday morning, to a warm welcome.

Ms Daniels was greeted at Heathrow by her eight-year-old triplets Joseph, Lucy and Rachel and said it was "absolutely wonderful" to be back.

The two completed their epic adventure on Sunday after an 81-day hike across Arctic ice from Ward Hunt Island, northern Canada.

They have set us all a wonderful example of determination and true British grit.

Prince Charles

They were the first all-female expedition to reach the geographic North Pole on foot and the first all-female team to walk to both geographic Poles.

Ms Daniels spoke about the hardships the pair had faced.

"Lots and lots of times I thought we were not going to make it, especially when there were temperatures of -50C for 26 days," she said.

The third member of the team, Pom Oliver, 50, who was forced to quit on day 47 with frostbitten feet, was also at the airport to cheer home the pair.

Since leaving Ward Hunt Island in northern Canada on 12 March, Ms Hamilton and Ms Daniels - who is from Whimple in Devon - have each pulled a 250lb (113kg) sledge of food and equipment.

Ann Daniels was greeted by her family at the airport

They have pulled their sledges over house-sized pressure ridges of ice and sat out blizzards.

As the temperature rose from -50C to -10C they faced a race against time to get walk across melting ice to the Pole.

And part of their journey involved swimming in specially developed, all-enveloping dry suits with their floating sledges.

The Prince of Wales was among the first to congratulate the women as he paid a personal tribute to them on Sunday.

"I am proud of my ladies. I always knew that they would do it after their magnificent efforts in Antarctica," he said.

Whisky celebration

"They have set us all a wonderful example of determination and true British grit."

Speaking by satellite telephone when they arrived at the North Pole, Ms Hamilton, from Spitalfields, central London, said: "We are on top of the world and it is a wonderful feeling.

"Speaking to your children from the top of the world is a very special feeling."

After planting a Union Jack, they celebrated with a miniature bottle of whisky and dried beef stew.