Explorer Tom Avery yesterday broke two world records and raised a glass of champagne to celebrate the end of his gruelling 413-mile trek to the North Pole.

The 29-year-old from Ticehurst, near Robertsbridge, toasted his team's success at completing the epic journey with only hours to spare.

Despite drifting nine miles overnight and waking up to the prospect of 18 snow and ice-covered miles still to go, Tom made it to the pole in 36 days, 22 hours and 11 minutes.

His team of five arrived at 1.32pm yesterday, slashing almost five hours off the previous record set by American explorer Robert Peary in 1909.

They triumphantly planted British, US, Canadian, South African and Nunavut flags in the ice as Commander Peary had done 96 years before.

The feat also makes Tom the youngest Briton to walk to both poles. He reached the South Pole on December 2002, just days after his 27th birthday.

Many were sceptical of Peary's achievement as they believed it was not possible. The team believes their record vindicates the explorer's claim.

Speaking from the North Pole, Mr Avery said: "We are just so unbelievably excited to be here and, even though it has been the longest and possibly the hardest 37 days of our lives, the journey has left us literally feeling on top of the world.

"We have always believed Peary was one of the greatest explorers of all time and hopefully our recreation of his journey will silence anyone who doubted this and put the controversy to rest for once and all."

Tom's father, Julian Avery, 59, a former East Sussex High Sheriff, was one of the first to receive a call from the North Pole. He said: "We are thrilled for the team and for Tom. This is not just about breaking the record. It is about giving all the credit due to Robert Peary."

Tom, an ambassador of The Prince's Trust, also telephoned the charity's patron, the Prince of Wales. A statement from Clarence House said Prince Charles was enormously proud of the team and their extraordinary achievement.

With Tom are Matty McNair, who led the first women's expedition to the North Pole in 1997, Canadian Hugh Dale-Harris, a teacher and dog sledger, management consultant Andrew Geber and property developer George Wells.

They set off from Cape Columbia in northern Nunavut, the Inuit territory of Canada opposite Greenland, on March 21.

Each day they crossed miles of ice and snow in temperatures as low as -45C (-49F), increasing their walking hours to 13 a day as their destination drew closer.

They navigated their way through one of the planet's most inhospitable environments, facing the constant threat of polar bears, towering ice walls up to 30 ft high and leads - huge expanses of water that open up in the ice at short notice.

Tom's mother, Quenelda, 57, said: "We have aged considerably in the last 24 hours. He has done this a few times but it does not get any easier. We are so excited because this is what he has wanted to do for two years."

Tom's love affair with mountaineering started at the age of seven when he was given a Ladybird book about Captain Scott's treacherous journey to the South Pole in 1912.

Mrs Avery is not sure when her son will return to England but said a huge welcome and an ample stock of yeast spread would be waiting for him.

She said: "His favourite food is Marmite - every true British explorer loves it."