Noel trained in Arctic goggles in Manchester, and in a giant freezer

Noel Bresland came sixth in the Arctic race that saw Sir Ranulph Fiennes finish as runner-up.

Mr Bresland - who had trained in a giant freezer in London to prepare for the big day - was raising money for the Children with Leukaemia charity.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Bresland said it was a hard race in hard conditions - but very worthwhile.

I would like to do a South Pole marathon - I think I've got the marathon bug Noel Bresland

Mr Bresland, who comes from Manchester, but was born in Plymouth, said: "It was tough, but the training really paid off.

"I would do it again - in fact I'm already planning the next one.

"I would like to do a South Pole marathon. I think I've got the marathon bug."

Cold, very cold

He completed the course in four hours and 36 minutes.

Temperatures got as low as -28C, but the wind chill made it feel as cold as - 50C.

"It was very cold - and I had to wear snow shoes all the time, which are hard to run in - but the weather was great," he said.

"It was bright and sunny. In fact there was no night at all.

"We were running at midnight."

Mr Bresland is also running in next week's London marathon.