Explorer John Blashford-Snell had the worst journey of his life this week. A 440-mile rail round-trip from Westbury to Liverpool took 21 hours 30 minutes.

Col Blashford-Snell OBE left his Dorset home at 5am on Monday, November 26 and returned at 2.30am the following day. The 65-year-old, who is well known for his books and public speaking, paid £100 for his first class ticket.

His mammoth journey took him through stations at Bristol, Birmingham and Stafford. The causes of hold ups along the away included a missing driver and technical problems.

Col Blashford-Snell has conquered tough terrain in the Amazon and has trekked along 2,700 miles of the Zaire River in Africa, but this proved to be one of his worst journeys ever.

He has written letters of complaint to three rail companies.