A University of Bath student is bidding to become the youngest person ever to trek to both the South and North Poles.

Tarka L'Herpiniere, 22, who is currently in the second year of a sports technology degree, is heading a two-man expedition in 2005 to trek unsupported to both geographical poles, in succession, from the edge of their respective polar caps.

Together with 37-year-old Patrick Wintertin, a commentator with Sky Sports, he will head for the Arctic in March next year and trek from the Canadianside starting at Ward Hunt Island, 772km above the Limonosov ridge, following the 75W longitudinal line to the geographic North Pole.

The expedition, entitled Primal Journey, is expected to take 45 days.

The following November, they will trek from the Hercules inlet at Patriot Hills in Antarctica, 1200km uphill to the geographic South Pole, a journey that will take an estimated 65 days.

Discussions are currently underway with a television company to make a film of the epic journeys and the two men are also searching for sponsorship to help fund the record-breaking expedition.

Mr L'Herpiniere said: 'The dream is to do something that has never been done before such as being the first person to walk on Mars. Although the bi-polar trek has been done before, being the youngest person to do it would be a start.'

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