AN environmental campaigner and trailblazing polar explorer was the guest of honour at the UK Hydrographic Office on Monday.

Pen Hadow made a trek to the Taunton-based chart maker to talk about his polar expeditions and the environmental impact of global warming.

Pen, who is the first person to trek solo, without assistance, from Canada to the North Geographic Pole, and the only Briton to have trekked to both poles, shared his experiences with UKHO staff.

He said: "It is in these pristine and vulnerable environments that I have witnessed for myself the first signs of the changes that lie ahead for us all, resulting from global warming."

During his presentation, Pen gave details of his next project, The Arctic Survey, which gets underway in February 2009.

He added: "Using ground-breaking technology, I plan to make the first accurate measurements of the true thickness of the Arctic Ice Cap, something that satellites and submarines are unable to do."

The Arctic Survey's data will help define the likely meltdown date of the ice cap, which is vital in helping plan for the inevitable geo-political consequences.

Pen, who lives on the edge of Dartmoor, signed copies of his book Solo - The North Pole Alone and Unsupported'.

UKHO head of facilities management Anne Webb said: "Pen was both a fascinating and inspirational speaker and I am sure many of us will follow his progress on The Arctic Survey very closely."

For more information on Pen Hadow, click on the link below.