GAZETTE & HERALD: Hardenhuish sixth former Sam Tyndall will be truly chilling out this summer as he heads towards the North Pole.

Sam, 17, of Greenway Park, Chippenham, will set off in July to Svalbard, one of the most northerly islands in the world.

Only 60 students from across the UK have been selected for the four-week expedition led by youth development charity BSES.

Sam was invited to take part after an interview with the organisers at the Royal Geographical Society in London.

He is hoping to be part of the glaciology group in the expedition, which is also studying wildlife.

Having done a lot of camping and walking in Scotland and Wales, Sam is hoping to do some ice climbing and is looking forward to a month under canvas.

But this is unlike anything Sam has endured before. "It's quite scary. It's the unknown," he said.

Svalbard, which is only 1,000 km from the North Pole, can be extremely cold and the terrain will be tough. Getting fit is Sam's main priority.

He has to raise more than £2,000 to take part in the trip, and his part time job at Tesco is not enough to meet all the expenses.

He is planning to do a sponsored litter pick with a couple of friends who are planning travels elsewhere.

He said: "I am reluctant to ask people to give me money so that I can go on the trip. I would like to be sponsored to do something that is helpful to other people.

"A litter pick is not very glamorous, but people are more likely to give me something for doing that than for a run or a walk."

Anyone who is able to help Sam is asked to telephone him on (01249) 657216 or email him on sjt@fish.co.uk