New son brings double joy for Polar explorer

An explorer from London who is among the first team to row to the magnetic North Pole has another first waiting for him at home: his baby son.

Mark Delstanche's partner Helene Reinders gave birth to the 7lb 3oz boy on Monday, days before the new father completed his 450-mile trip. And his first job on getting back home to Battersea will be to help decide on a name for the newborn.

Mr Delstanche, 37, was part of a five-man team, led by Scot Jock Wishart, which took four weeks to complete the route. They reached the North Pole at 12.30am today.

They encountered eight polar bears and collided with icebergs as they travelled in a specially designed vessel. The trip has become possible only recently because of an increase in seasonal ice melt.

Mr Wishart organised the Row To The Pole in boat-cum-sledge Old Pulteney to highlight the effects of climate change on ice in the Arctic region.