JUST a month after walking to the North Pole, Swindon-born explorer David Hempleman-Adams has announced plans to cross the Atlantic in a hot-air balloon.

Mr Hempleman-Adams, 47, attempted to become the first man to cross the Atlantic single-handed in a wicker basket balloon last September.

But he was forced to ditch while still on dry land 24 hours after setting off because his autopilot system failed.

Undeterred, the Box-based adventurer has announced plans to try again and will set off around June 1.

He is currently still recovering from a broken foot suffered after falling down a twenty-feet crevasse during a record-breaking Polar walk. The 300-mile trek took a month and earned him a place in the record books as the first man to walk unaided to the North Pole.

Returning home he declared that to be his last solo expedition.

But speaking to the Evening Advertiser today he said he meant the last solo Polar expedition. He said: "When I finished the balloon trip last year I said I was definitely going to go back again.

"Last time it failed because of technical problems with the autopilot. This time were are taking two sets of equipment so hopefully there won't be the same problem."

The high-flying transatlantic bid is being sponsored by the Bank of Ireland to promote the 2003 Special Olympics in Ireland.

It will cost around £50,000 and is a relative bargain in record-breaking terms.

When Richard Branson mounted his ill-fated attempt to cross the Atlantic in a balloon his budget was £2m and he had a air-tight capsule.

Hempleman-Adams will be making the 3,000-mile journey in little more than an over-sized laundry basket, braving temperatures of -300C.

Setting off again from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, it will take him four or five days and he could finish up anywhere in Europe.

He said: "The record for the longest distance travelled by a balloon of this type is still held by America and I want to break that record. The North Pole got me up to speed so I should be able to cope with the cold.

"The Atlantic is an icon, lots of people cross it in aeroplanes it's fantastic to do it in the simplest form of transport. This is the 100th anniversary of powered flight so it's a great year to be doing it."

After this latest exploit the explorer plans finally to take a break.

He said: "I'll just go on holiday with my family and get a suntan after this one."

But if this second trans-Atlantic balloon effort fails he won't be put off.

He said: "I was born in Swindon and you can't keep a Swindon boy down!"