SEVEN injured servicemen and veterans of the armed forces recently travelled with Pilgrim Bandits Charity based in New Milton, to Spitsbergen, Norway in the Arctic.

Spitsbergen is the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago in northern Norway. During a week’s expedition, code named Operation Polar Bear, the team, which included the mission support crew from Pilgrim Bandits Charity, travelled over 250 miles in -40 degree temperatures.

The island has an Arctic climate and is a breeding hotspot for many seabirds and marine mammals and feeding grounds for polar bear.

A spokesman for Pilgrim Bandits said:“The idea of the expedition was to work in an extreme setting and to share the beauty of that environment. The sighting of a polar bear in our camp and seeing the Northern Lights added to the overall success of the expedition. The guys are now among only 3 per cent of the population that visit Svalbard to actually see a wild polar bear.”

Those injured that took part included; Steve Shine, Jake Bartlett, Karl Boon, Craig Howorth all single leg amputees. Charity Patron Ben Parkinson MBE who is a double leg amputee, along with injured veteran Richard Wilkinson and serving Police Officer Damien Malone.

Speaking for the injured Sgt Richard Wilkinson of the King's Royal Hussars (KRH) said: “The whole adventure was something that can’t be described. This was a once in a lifetime experienced topped off with a great bunch of men to share it with. Thanks to everyone involved for making it possible.”

To find out more about the charity, go to www.pilgrimbandits.org