Recruitment consultant Fiona Thornewill has completed her unaided solo walk to the South Pole in record time.

Polar adventurer Thornewill, 37, braved temperatures as low as –50C to complete her 700 mile voyage in 42 days.

Her time was two days faster than the previous record, set by a team of Korean men.

Thornewill’s satellite phone failed a few days into the journey, meaning she was unable to communicate with the rest of the world.

She also had to contend with heavy ice, which made dragging her sledge full of supplies an arduous task.

The Nottingham-based consultant, who works for Harper Recruitment, prepared by dragging heavy loads on her journey to work.

She told her family: “I kept telling myself, surely this can’t go on forever? Suddenly, with a mile to go to the American base, the sun came out and I was able to touch the pole in glorious sunshine.”