ARCTIC adventurers have crossed the start line on the world's toughest endurance test.

Longwood man Mike Dann, 27, and his friends Simon Edmundson and Tim Tottenham, both 26, are taking part in the race to raise funds for the Laura Crane Trust.

They are among 15 teams in the Sony Polar Challenge.

The trio, who hope to raise £10,000, spent two weeks in the Arctic preparing for the race.

They joined the other competitors for an intense physical and mental training programme to prepare for the challenge.

Ahead of them they face a trek of 350 miles across the icy landscape to the North Pole, pulling 90lbs of supplies behind them.

If this wasn't daunting enough they face a formidable fight against nature - dealing with temperatures as low as -25°C, Arctic blizzards and even polar bears!

In preparation of the dangers ahead, the teams were taught vital skills such as navigation, map reading, keeping warm and hydrated and polar bear safety.

In their bid to win, some teams will take only a few hours' sleep in order to ski up to 30 miles a day.

Winners of the race, run by extreme challenges group Venture Challenge Group, are expected to cross the finish line on April 27.