EXPLORER Ann Daniels is preparing to set yet another polar record.

The 48-year-old fromWhimple, near Exeter, is aiming to become the first woman to walk solo to the North Pole across the shifting, frozen ice of the Arctic Ocean.

The mother-of-four has made several trips to the Arctic Circle in recent years, helping to collect data to further scientific research in a number of different areas.

And now she wants to stand alone at the top of the world to cap nearly 15 years of successful adventuring across the icy wastes of the Arctic and Antarctica.

She is currently seeking sponsorship for the £250,000 expedition – which would involve her hauling a 200lb sledge up to 700 miles across the ice pack from Canada to the Pole – with a planned 2013 start.

She said: "This is my last big expedition – and if I achieve it that will be everything I want to do."

For Ms Daniels it is a case of unfinished business after her first solo, 700-mile North Pole attempt, starting from Russia, was suddenly called off in 2005.

"After 21 days on the ice the Russians removed the permits from every expedition," she said.

The former bank worker started travelling to the Earth's extreme ends in 1997 when she was on the first leg of the McVities Polar Penguin Relay – five teams of four women – which reached the top of the world.

And in 2010 Ms Daniels took part in the 400-mile Catlin Arctic Survey – which researched the effects greenhouse gases could have on Arctic Ocean marine life.

Now she wants to have another go at the solo North Pole ice challenge which eluded her in 2005 – and expects changes in the Arctic Ocean to make it even more difficult than before.

"The ice has changed dramatically with a lot more open water – now you cannot get to the Pole without swimming," she said.

A bright orange survival suit will insulate her from the cold during paddles across "leads" of open sea between ice pack.

"And the ice is more dynamic as there is a lot more room for it to move – so it drifts a lot faster, pushing you backwards from the Pole," she said.

She will be re-supplied twice with air drops – to save time, and because changes in the polar ice means there are fewer areas for aircraft to land.

Her 17-year-old triplets, Rachel, Lucy and Joseph, were just three years old when she embarked on her first North Pole trip.

"Now they are really excited and interested in what I do – in fact Lucy is keen to go the North Pole herself," said Ms Daniels, who also has eight-year-old Sarah with partner of 10 years Tom O'Connor.

Ms Daniels also wants to create an educational package to raise awareness of the plight of the region, and raise funds for charity.