Intrepid polar explorer Ann Daniels, who conquered both North and South poles, is set to take on a new challenge - an Easter camping trip with her children.

The mother of triplets is set to spend the holidays around the camp fire eating Easter eggs rather than braving the freezing winds of the polar ice caps.

Ann was part of a record-breaking team of women that walked 695 miles to the South Pole - and received an award from the Prime Minister for her outstanding achievements.

Now the 35-year-old will take five-year-old triplets Rachel, Joseph and Lucy camping closer to home in Harrogate.

She is then set to come back to her home town of Bradford before finishing off a book about her polar exploits.

Her mother, Kathleen Hardacre, from Allerton said: "Ann is not a typical stay-at-home mum. We are looking after the children for a few days and then she is coming up from Somerset to take the children on a trip.

"She is very keen to spend time with the children and will be in Bradford for at least three months while she writes her book."

The all-woman expedition hit the headlines and the record books. On their return from the South Pole the team were feted by Prince Charles, who had kept in contact with them during their two month journey.

Afterwards Ann joked she would be involved in a new trek - to the job centre.

She had given up her job as a finance officer with the Ministry of Defence in order to take part in the all-female expedition.

Although she found work very quickly she decided she needed to follow her dream. I suppose I am very marketable at the moment. I had planned to move to London with the children and start this job in Public Relations.

"But then I thought long and hard about it and decided that it wasn't really what I wanted to do. I wanted to write," said Ann.

The book, which Ann began to write after completing her first expedition to the North Pole, will be about her experiences, and not just as an explorer.

"I have a lot to say, not just as an explorer but as a single mother, a mother of triplets.

"Although it has been hard leaving the children I do think it's been worth it and has taught us all that the most important thing is learning how to follow your dreams, no matter what they are."

e-mail: anila.baig

@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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