Ann Daniels is hoping to complete the trek in 60 days

Ann Daniels lost 11 trekking days waiting for the Russian authorities to give her the go ahead for her 636-mile trek from the Siberian coast.

She now has to wait until Wednesday for a flight from Khatanga to her Cape Arktichevsky start point.

Ms Daniels will now lighten her sledge by half her body weight to move faster.

Her Dartmoor-based communications manager, Ian Wesley, said Ms Daniels was "very frustrated and upset" at the latest hold-up.

He said the later Ms Daniels, from Whimple near Exeter, set off, the thinner the Arctic Ocean ice would become on her scheduled 60-day journey.

Helicopter drop

She has until 28 April - when the ice starts to break up - to complete her marathon journey.

Mr Wesley said Ms Daniels had been "on her way to the plane" in Khatanga when the authorities said she and other Polar parties could not depart, though no reason was given for the delay.

Despite offloading some supplies at the start, Ms Daniels will have about 66lb of extra food dropped by helicopter about halfway through her journey thanks to the help of other Polar adventurers.

Mr Wesley said an American party was allowing Ms Daniels - who is self-funded with no major sponsor - to have supplies ferried out on their chartered helicopter at no cost.

Following her progress at home are her 10-year-old triplets Joseph, Lucy and Rachel by a former marriage, and her 22-month-old daughter Sarah with partner Tom O'Connor.