The Wiltshire-based explorer told his UK base he had arrived at the pole at 1510 local time (seven hours behind BST) on Sunday.

A spokesman said he had completed the final challenging 10 miles over the icy terrain after badly bruising a leg in a 20-foot fall.

The veteran explorer was ecstatic at having achieved the feat, the spokesman said.

"He is now the first person to have walked solo and unsupported to the Geomagnetic North Pole."

The journey started on 17 March from Eurika, Ellesmere Island, to the west of Greenland. By 2 April he had reached the crux of the expedition, Copes Bay, just over half way.

The journey involved dragging a Kevlar sledge, weighed down with100lbs of equipment and supplies, for nearly 300 miles.

Hempleman-Adams told his UK base: "I am thrilled to have achieved this - I failed in 1999 and felt I had to come back."