A city worker who was diagnosed with cancer just weeks after his best friend and mum died has made history by conquering the South Pole.

Rob Smith, 43, from Station Road, in Harpenden, reached the South Pole on January 9 making him the first British explorer to pioneer a new route and successfully ski to the South Pole.

The team covered 650km on skis battling temperatures as low as -35C in a bid to raise £50,000 for Cancer Research UK.

This is Mr Smith's second epic expedition having already completed a 160km trek to the North Pole in April 2016.

He said: “I am ecstatic that we have finally made it. This has been the most incredible experience of my life and it has changed me in so many ways.

"I hope I have proved that cancer is not the end, it is in many ways the beginning of a new stage in my life. A stage that drove me on and made me do things that I can be proud of.

"I am dedicating this pioneering expedition to my mum and Neil, all those lost to cancer, all those battling cancer, all those families in grief or providing support, to Cancer Research UK, to my loved ones and to the people of Britain supporting global exploration. A long list but it has been a long way."

Mr Smith set off from the UK on November 28 and began the expedition itself at the Ross Ice Shelf on December 8.

The challenge saw him celebrating Christmas in Antarctica with the only changes to his gruelling routine involving singing half a carol and opening two small presents – including a furry cat mask from his daughter Ella, 11.

He said: "I found Christmas Day quite emotional. Thoughts of my mum and Neil stayed with me for most of my skiing. They seemed to be so close to me, supporting me and giving me guidance. I also really missed Ella and my loved ones.

"I knew being there was the right thing, supporting Cancer Research UK’s work, ensuring mum and Neil receive suitably incredible dedication, but a small feeling of being selfish hit me as I could not see my little girl.

"I knew she was proud of me but I need to be there with her too, especially at Christmas. We will have two Christmas celebrations next year."

Additional challenges for the team included battling snow blindness, sores and altitude sickness and Mr Smith's ear lobe was lost to frostbite.

Mr Smith, is an IT sales director for Dell EMC in Leadenhall Street, was inspired to take on the epic challenge of a lifetime following his own devastating experiences of the disease.

In 2012 his best friend Neil Crisp died leaving a wife and new born baby after being diagnosed with oesophageal and lung cancer and given only weeks to live.

A month later Mr Smith's mum Maureen also died following a 20 year battle with breast cancer. And weeks after her funeral he was then told he had testicular cancer and would need surgery and chemotherapy.