A finanace officer from Hove has fulfilled her ambition by becoming the first British woman to run a marathon on all seven continents and the North Pole.

Kate Charles, 33, had already pounded her way across Europe, Africa, South America, North America, Asia, Oceania and Antarctica but saved the most gruelling challenge until last.

She prepared for the North Pole marathon by training on a treadmill inside a giant freezer at Brighton University's sports science department.

But nothing could prepare her for the run itself, during which she had to endure temperatures as low as minus 23C.

After running for nearly eight hours Kate, of Sackville Road, Hove, completed her North Pole challenge and said eating hot pancakes was the secret of her success.

Speaking from a hotel in Spitsbergen, Norway, Kate said: "I am pleased to have finished as it was more about survival. The circuit was 3km and I ran round 16 times.

"It was pretty uneven and the snow was fine and powdery. It felt like I was running in flour.

"I came in after lap ten and had a couple of hot pancakes but after that I found it was better to keep going and get it over with. I drank just half a litre of water throughout the whole run because we only had salt water which made me feel quite sick."

Kate, who returns to the UK today, took up running four years ago as a way of beating depression.

In preparation she ran in ice and snow in Switzerland and trained with former soldiers in Preston Park, Brighton.

To protect her from the elements she wore three layers of clothing, snow shoes, gloves and goggles during Saturday's run.

Kate hopes to raise £5,000 for children's hospice Demelza House in Sittingbourne, Kent.

She is proud of her achievement but won't take it easy on her return as she will run the London Marathon later this month.

She said: "I am looking forward to London as there will be great crowd support. It will also be flat but I hear they have taken out the cobbles which I would have been well prepared for."

After that she aims to finish a book about her exploits with the working title Feat Of Feet.

For further information visit www.katecharleschallenge.com .