A polar explorer who took his 15-year-old daughter on a dangerous trip to the Arctic didn't share a tent with her to avoid the "explosive mix" of father and teenage daughter.

Fifteen-year-old schoolgirl Camilla Hempleman-Adams made her father David "extremely proud" when she became the youngest British woman to ski to the North Pole on Wednesday.

The two, who live in Box, celebrated with brandy in a tent when they reached their destination, after a group photo at the pole with a union jack flag and the flag from Camilla's school, Prior Park in Bath.

Speaking via satellite phone this morning, Mr Hempleman-Adams - who was on his tenth expedition to the North Pole - said when planning the trip, he made the decision not to share a tent with Camilla to avoid any father-daughter tension.

Instead, he decided to split the group into two tents with Camilla sharing a tent with six others, including Norwegian polar expert Rune Gjeldnes.

Mr Hempleman-Adams said: "Teenage daughters and fathers is an explosive mix - especially when one is tired.

"I didn't want to be on her case the whole time so I decided to put her in a tent with Rune and another experienced guy, Justin Packshaw, who I trust wholeheartedly.

"They've both done very well looking after her. I'm going to have to buy Rune a big cigar when we get back. Unquestionably, one of the hardest things for Camilla has been coping with all the snoring in her tent.

"One day, Camilla's goggles were steaming up and I could hear her crying but I deliberately didn't go over to see her.

"I know she is being looked after by Rune and Justin and I've got to look after the whole group, not just her. I'm responsible for 12 people, not just one.

"This isn't a holiday camp, she's just got to get on with it. However, each night I always make sure I go over to her tent to say good night to her."

He added: "Camilla, along with the group, was delighted. She's done magnificently, amazingly well, I'm extremely proud of her."

Camilla said: Speaking via satellite phone she said she will relish getting back to a normal diet and the comforts of home.

"I've been sharing a tent with four men and two women and the snoring has been unbearable despite my ear plugs," she said.

"The food has been disgusting. It's like sick. I'm really looking forwards to my first pizza or spaghetti when I get back to civilisation.

"Going to the toilet outside is also pretty bad. It was a shock the first time but I'm getting used to it now."

She added: "This has been the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.

"The scariest moment was when we woke up one morning on an island surrounded by water and we had to ski across thin ice. It was very worrying.

"It's been amazing going on an expedition with my dad for the first time and now my eyes have been opened as to what he has done on previous trips. I would love to go on another expedition with him."

Mr Hempleman Adams, 51, said he struggled to keep up with his daughter during the journey.

He added: "I'll be happy when I've got her on the plane on the way home.

"However, she has done tremendously well. I can barely keep up with her."

The team left the UK with a group of 11 explorers on Thursday last week.

They flew to Longyearbyen in Norway where they underwent two days cold weather training before flying to the ice camp Barneo where they were due to ski the last degree to the North Pole.

But due to a heavy ice drift they had to get a helicopter closer to the Pole in order to complete the expedition on schedule.

The team is hoping to be picked up from the North Pole tomorrow.