A 30-year-old from Stonehaven is about to become the first Scot and youngest Brit to reach the South Pole in a solo, unsupported and unassisted expedition.

Luke Robertson was inspired to undertake the mammoth 730-mile challenge, which involves dragging kit weighing 17 stones behind him, after a brain cancer scare two years ago.

Mr Robertson has already spent 40 days, including the festive period, alone in Antarctica working towards his goal. He is expected to complete the journey sometime on Wednesday or Thursday.

He originally aimed to raise £25,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care after being inspired by patients he met when in hospital for surgery on his own tumour, which turned out to be non-cancerous.

Mr Robertson's funding efforts have so far raised more than £43,000 and he has set a new target of £100,000.

The finance worker, who now lives in Edinburgh, has a pacemaker after suffering heart problems in his younger years.

On his fundraising page, Mr Robertson states: "This year I am aiming to become a record-breaker by travelling solo, unassisted and unsupported to the South Pole, Antarctica.

"In this expedition in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care and backed by my patron, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and also by Mark Beaumont and Gordon Buchanan, I will ski 730 miles on the coldest, windiest and highest continent on Earth.

"In doing so, I shall become the first Scot in history and the youngest Brit to complete such a challenge.

"I will ski 730 miles, the equivalent of travelling from John O'Groats to Dover and climb 9000ft in only 35 days.

"I shall man-haul a sledge heavier than my own bodyweight and be completely self-sufficient throughout this challenge.

"Having overcome serious personal medical issues to test myself in such an extreme environment, the aims of this trip are wide-ranging but primarily two-fold.

"These are to raise significant charitable funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care and to inspire others to conquer similar physical or mental challenges to achieve goals and dreams."