A heart attack survivor is taking part in a gruelling 20-day, 350-mile trek across icy polar terrain for charity.

Roger Davies, 61, from Sutton, had an operation to hold his arteries open after he suffered a heart attack last February, but he still put himself forward for the Polar Race, which starts from Resolute Bay in Northern Canada and ends at the 1996 certified position of the Magnetic North Pole.

The race takes the contestants some 350 miles, by ski or foot, across some of the most desolate terrain in the world and has been undertaken by fewer than 450 people in the world.

Mr Davies, who in March will be competing against five other teams, has been training with his two team mates inside a cold store to acclimatise.

They intends to raise money for the Tadworth’s Children’s Trust, which provides care, education and therapy to children with multiple disabilities.

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, said: “I have nothing but admiration for Mr Davies and the incredible challenge he is taking on.

“I wish Mr Davies every success and look forward to hearing how the race goes as well as how much money he raises. Hopefully he won’t return with stories involving polar bears.”