Pen Hadow was welcomed by his family at Heathrow Airport

Mr Hadow was reunited with his wife, Mary, and two children, who travelled from Hexworthy on Dartmoor to welcome him at Heathrow Airport.

The 41-year-old, from Devon, completed the first solo, unsupported trek from Canada to the geographic North Pole on 19 May, covering 478 miles in 64 days.

He was then stranded for eight days on floating ice and down to his last rations as bad weather prevented a rescue team from reaching him until Tuesday's airlift.

His historic achievement has not been without controversy, with his Canadian rescue team, Kenn Borek Air, accusing Mr Hadow of being irresponsible.

Pen Hadow was stranded for eight days in bad weather

But there was nothing but praise for Mr Hadow at Heathrow Airport where he was met by his wife Mary, son Wilf, four, and one-year-old daughter Freya on Friday.

His mother, Anne, brother Henry, friends, relatives and supporters were also there to greet him.

Mr Hadow said he was "absolutely delighted" to be home, although he was finding it "rather claustrophobic after being in the Arctic".

He commented on how much his baby daughter had changed, saying: "It's incredible, she is all teeth and hair."

Recalling the emotions he felt when he reached the Pole, Mr Hadow said: "There was huge, utter relief. I had finally done it.

Pen Hadow trekked 478 miles to reach the Pole

"I have spent so much mental energy for 15 years thinking about this project, but getting there meant I could relax."

He dedicated his achievement to the memory of his father, Nigel, who died 10 years ago in his 60s.

"My thoughts were with my father, whose memory I am very dedicated to.

"I was very emotional. I broke down and sank to my knees beside my sledge for two to three minutes.

"But then I just had to get on with it."

Mr Hadow refuted accusations that he had put his rescue team at risk by carrying out the expedition when he did.

Critics had said ice at the Pole was thinner and more treacherous because the trip was made too close to the summer.

But Mr Hadow said: "I feel completely comfortable with the situation," he said.

"If the company was really concerned about the safety of their pilots, they should have said something and knew they could have said something.

"But that request never came, and I didn't expect it to."

He said thoughts of his family had kept him going at the most difficult times of the expedition.

"When I was on thin ice, if I was pushing the limits a bit, I thought of Wilfy.

"I had this image of picking daffodils on Dartmoor. The image of never being able to pick daffodils with Wilf would pop in my head."

He said he now looked forward to getting to know his family again, especially his daughter, whose first steps he had missed.

"I need to get to know my daughter because she is only one.