A TEACHER from Worcestershire is swapping school books for skis to take part in the world's toughest polar race.

James Abbott, who teaches design technology and outdoor education at Abberley Hall School, in Wyre Piddle, near Pershore, is preparing to race 320 miles in one of the world's most extreme environments for the Polar Challenge in April.

The 29-year-old, along with team mates Stuart Nenson and Zu Zurafalet, both from London, will be racing against 19 other teams in a bid to reach the Magnetic North Pole the quickest - and they are hoping to beat last year's winners time of 21 days.

But with temperatures as low as -70C, pulling sledges weighing up to 150lbs and mingling with 80 per cent of the world's polar bear population, The Bearhuggers, as James' team is known, certainly have their work cut out.

James, who regularly takes part in expeditions in Canada, said he has lots of experience of endurance tasks and was looking forward to his next challenge.

"I've been building up my endurance for this by dragging tyres over the Malvern Hills and I'm heading to Austria this week to learn cold water survival and how to use a shotgun," he said.

But as well as the physical challenge, James and his team mates are racing to publicise the issue of climate change.

"It is our mission to be responsible throughout our preparation and during the event to calculate the carbon emissions we will produce," he said.

"We want to demonstrate how easy it is to be responsible for your carbon emissions and encourage individuals to challenge the way they go about their lives."

James will be leaving England on April 11 and starting the race, which will be televised, on April 22.

His progress can be followed by visiting www.bearhuggers.co.uk