In 2005, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa and in 1999 he ran the New York Marathon, both for charity.

Looking for an even more extreme challenge to help him raise money for the Prince's Trust, he came up with the idea of a polar expedition.

He said: "I was looking for something to do which was different and I don't know anyone else who has done this. I thought it would be a good challenge."

Leaving the UK early in the new year, Peter (45), will travel to Punta Arenas in Chile to start his adventure.

After flying to Patriot Hills on the rim of Antarctica, he will prepare to trek the last degree from 89 degrees south to 90 degrees – the geographical South Pole.

The distance involved is not great, about 60 miles, and the terrain is firm, about two-mile-thick ice. The challenges lie in the punishing weather and plummeting temperatures. It could take eight or nine days to cover the distance, but there will be no problems ensuring the champagne is icy cold for the celebrations when they reach the Pole.

Although it will be summer and permanent daylight in the Antarctic, temperatures are expected to be -20C to -35C most of the time.

Members of the international expedition will have to tow a 50kg sledge with all their own food, camping gear, sleeping bag and cooking equipment.

Oh poo!

To keep the polar plateau pristine and pollution-free, Peter said: "You also have to tow all your own waste. EVERY bit of waste you create has to be taken out of Antarctica."

As part of his preparations, he went in April to the Svalbard Archipelago about 600 miles north of Norway.

"We spent three nights in a frozen field, learning how to camp on snow and pull sledges on skis," he said.

16,000ft, -50c

As well as skiing to the South Pole, he plans to climb Mount Vinson, the highest mountain in Antarctica at just over 16,000ft. High winds, snow storms and temperatures as low as -50C can be expected.

For this, he is due to go on a six-day mountaineering course in Switzerland.

He is also working hard on his general fitness in preparation for the rigours of the expedition, organised by Polar Explorers.

Peter, who is managing director of Middleton Aggregates and Clanpress, will clearly earn every penny of the £10,000 he is hoping to raise in sponsorship.

His incentive is his commitment to the Prince's Trust, which works with young people who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law.

"I genuinely believe the Trust does very good work for disadvantaged young people and the money we raise in Norfolk is spent in Norfolk," he said.

Anyone willing to sponsor him is asked to go to www.just giving.com/peterlemon

He added: "I know times are tough, but please do the best you can for a young person who has probably had a permanently tough time."