New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary - who has already conquered Mount Everest - arrived with his team 17 days ago.

Early this afternoon Sir Edmund welcomed the British team led by Dr Vivian "Bunny" Fuchs to the South Pole.

The British and New Zealand teams are members of a joint Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic expedition but set off from opposite ends of the continent last November.

The New Zealanders started out from the newly-created Scott camp near the Ross Sea while the British began their journey at Shackleton camp near the Weddell Sea.

Both teams used motorised vehicles for the trip to the South Pole.

En route, Sir Edmund and his team were responsible for setting up food and fuel depots for the British team.

They will now attempt to reach Scott Base and complete the 2158-mile (3473-kilometre) Antarctic crossing.

Worsening weather

However, the British team's departure from Shackleton camp was delayed and they are now running almost three weeks behind schedule.

They must now decide when to start the second leg of the journey given the worsening weather conditions.

Dr Fuchs said the team would definitely go on.

"We hope and expect to get out before the winter, if not - bad luck,'" he said.

Asked whether he had considered breaking his journey and continuing in the spring Dr Fuchs replied: "Are the people who suggested that prepared to pay for it?"

He thought it likely the team would reach Scott camp in the first week of March, Dr Fuchs added.

Expedition members are also carrying out scientific experiments including seismic soundings and gravimetric readings during their epic journey.

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