A Falmouth father who trekked 560 miles across the south pole for charity finally arrived home last night – after getting delayed due to snow in London.

Former Royal Marine Gary Bullen returned to his Wodehouse Terrace home after saying goodbye to his wife Tracey and three young children on December 15.

He trekked for over 20 miles a day to altitudes of 900ft and in temperatures that plummeted as low as minus 56 degrees centigrade, with his team coming third of out six teams from other countries that included an Olympic champion and two international skiers.

Mr Bullen and the rest of the Cornwall South Pole Challenge team took 20 days to complete the race, with the winning team taking 17 days.

It was therefore ironic that the only real difficulty he had with ice and snow was when he arrived at Heathrow, to find the UK hit by blizzards and the transportation systems shut down, delaying his jubilant return.

Mr Bullen, an outward bound instructor who works with schools and individuals in the Falmouth area through his company Avor Academy, told the Packet: “I had real difficulty getting back from Heathrow, although we had flown out from the south pole in zero visibility. It is fantastic to be finally back and I’ve had a great reception from people, especially locally. It’s just great to be home.”

He has so far raised almost £6,000 for the Precious Lives Appeal, to help build a new hospice for Children’s Hospice South West.

However, there is no rest for the good – this evening he travels to Plymouth, to train marines how to ski before heading to Norway with them as part of his continuing work as a Royal Marine reserve.

Mr Bullen’s ultimate ambition would now be to complete a 320-mile race across the north pole – which he has also taken part in before – with his three sons Elliot, Samuel and Aaron when they are older.

However, the youngest, five-year-old Elliott, has already announced his intentions of accompanying his father and in his mind he’d like to leave a little bit sooner.

“Every time I leave he comes down and he’s heartbroken, because he’s got his coat on and his bag with toys and says, ‘I’m ready daddy.’ He’s definitely got the adventure bug in him,” said his father.

To donate money and support Mr Bullen’s charity fundraising you can visit www.justgiving.com/cornwallsouthpolechallenge or send a cheque made payable to Cornwall South Pole Challenge to 37 Wodehouse Terrace, Falmouth, TR11 3EP.