Explorer David Hempleman Adams is tackling his latest challenge this week by trekking across Baffin island at the centre of the Arctic Circle.

He is leading a group of people on the 12-day expedition and braving treacherous temperatures as low as -40C and cover 150 miles to raise awareness of climate change.

He said: “ I am taking a group of 15 people to the island to see the effects of global warming which they would not otherwise see properly they can see first hand.

“I have been over there about six or seven times alreayand it is a very beautiful place. It is perfect for highlighting the effects of global warming as a third of the ice has melted in the past 20 years.

“Providing the weather is ok the expedition should run smoothly though a whole host of things could happen walking across the arctic at such low temperatures and over thin ice.”

He hopes that members of his team will see the devastating effects of climate change and spread the word when they return home.

One of Mr Hempleman Adams’ students is a 20-year-old art student at Plymouth University who will capture the effects of global warming in portraits that she will paint, using gin to thin the paint instead of water to ensure it won’t freeze.

The group flew out to Canada on Tuesday (24) to begin their 12-day expedition which will also study the art of the Inuit people who live on Baffin Island.