British explorer's quest for world-first of challenges halted by climate change

A BRITISH explorer on the brink of becoming the first in the world to complete an extraordinary challenge has thwarted by global warming

- Robert Kellaway

Nick Hollis had been due to set off on a quest to the North Pole for the final stage of a daunting Grand Slam known as the 721 challenge.

But the day he was set to leave he was told a specially built ice runway at his base camp had snapped in half, meaning he had to call the expedition off.

Nick has already climbed the world's seven highest peaks, reached the South Pole and rowed across the Atlantic.

Getting to the North Pole would have made him the first to conquer the challenge of seven peaks, two poles and one ocean - hence 721.

So far 28 people, including three Britons, have reached the seven summits and both of the poles, meaning that if things had gone to plan Nick would have become the first to have done all that plus rowed the Atlantic too.

But now Nick, of Cookham, Berkshire, has been forced to postpone his bid until next year. He said: "I strongly believe it's due to climate change.