Winchester man, David Aston, is celebrating after his team, Northern Stars, won the first leg of the gruelling Polar Race.

Six teams are competing in the 350-mile race from Resolute Bay in Nunavut, North-West Canada, to the finish line, the last officially-erected position of the Magnetic North Pole, 20 miles from Isachson.

Just two hours separated the first four teams in the first leg, which took them on a gruelling 65-mile trek to Polaris Mine. Competitors coped with -40 temperatures and a blizzard after starting from Resolute Bay in what is widely regarded as the world's toughest race.

Northern Stars, consisting of David Aston, who lives in Northbrook Avenue and colleagues, Charlie Newington-Bridges and Alex Williams, crossed the line just 18 minutes ahead of the Cable and Wireless pairing of Simon Elmont and Steve Wright, from the Channel Islands.

Third was the Neways Polar Team, Justin Packshaw and Christina Franco, from the UK and Italy respectively. They led the first leg, but took a different route overland while the others continued over the sea ice.

Fourth was the Gentlemen Adventurers, James Laban and Will Morton, from the UK. The Ikey Icemen, from South Africa and the Pole Position team brought up the rear.

The teams, novices to the contest, have been training hard for 18 months. They now have a chance to rest up before the next stage, which will take them 130 miles from Polaris Mine to a point north of Bathurst Island.

Commenting on his team's success, David said: "It was an awesome experience."