A woman soldier celebrated Christmas on Antarctica's Forbidden Plateau.

Second Lieutenant Sarah Piesse, 23, from Robertsbridge, was part of an Army team which has been exploring the frozen continent since the start of December.

They decked out their tents with glittering decorations and Christmas dinner consisted of a freeze-dried Army ration pack meal, with a choice of chicken balti or beef and mashed potato, and a hot flask of tea or coffee.

Dessert was a rehydrated custard and apple pudding mix.

The 16 members of the expedition, whose patron is the Prince of Wales, are spending three months on the Antarctica Peninsula after sailing there in a 72ft yacht, the John Laing.