INTREPID explorer, Stephen Hubble (left), has returned from the Arctic in one piece and having raised thousands of pounds for two charities.

Stephen, from West Devon, recently completed a 300 kilometre dog sled across some of the toughest wilderness on earth in support of regional charity Children's Hospice South West and Demelza Hospice Care for Children in Kent.  So far he has raised nearly £9,000.

Stephen, 51, said: 'The trip was fantastic!  The scenery was incredible – a frozen wasteland up on the plateau with views over the mountains of Norway and Finland from northern Sweden. 

'It is very desolate and remote in those far northern mountains, nothing but snow, rock and ice and very few people apart from us 

'Although cold, the weather was kind to us most of the time, save for one night when a blizzard blew in with heavy snow and winds of 80 kilometres per hour!  Thankfully I was inside a wooden hut that night and not in my tent!

'I did some things I have never tried before, like fishing through a hole in the ice, and we completed the whole trip on schedule.'

Stephen paid tribute to everyone who has supported his adventure so generously.

He added: 'As I personally paid all my expenses for the trip, every penny donated has gone to help these magnificent causes. '

Children's Hospice South West currently runs two homely hospices in the region — Little Bridge House in North Devon and Charlton Farm in North Somerset — to serve families with children who are not expected to reach adulthood.  A third hospice – Little Harbour in Cornwall – is due to open by the end of the year.

Judy Pride, community fundraiser for CHSE, said: 'Our congratulations to Stephen for completing such an extreme challenge.

'The money he has raised will help provide vital care and support for families with life-limited children who face their own challenges every day.'