POLAR explorer Robert Swan had been hoping for anything but snow when he gets married in his home town today.

The first man to walk unaided to both North and South Poles is to tie the knot with fiancee Nicole Gallacher at St Mary's Church, in Wycliffe, near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

But with a thin layer of snow already covering the region last night, Mr Swan told The Northern Echo that he would be keeping a keen eye on the weather today.

"I'm nervous about the wedding, as is usual, but I'm even more nervous if it snows any more," he joked.

"I'd be the last person expected to get lost in a snow drift, so there'd be no excuses if I arrived at the church late!"

Mr Swan, 46, met his bride-to-be in London and the couple have been together for about a year-and-a-half.

Miss Gallacher, 30, who works in public relations and marketing, is from Cape Town, South Africa, and accompanied Mr Swan to Antarctica last year. She lives with him at Barras, near Brough, Cumbria.

About 60 guests will attend today's church ceremony, at 5pm, before joining the newlyweds for a reception at the Morritt Arms, Greta Bridge.

"We decided on Wycliffe church because this is our home and it's a real family affair," said Mr Swan.

"My mother, Margaret, who is 87, is the real guest of honour and my best man is Edward Peat.

"Nicole's family have come all the way from South Africa for the ceremony and they are finding it a bit chilly."

Mr Swan's eight-year-old son, Barney, from a previous marriage has travelled from his home in Cairns, Australia, to act as ring bearer.

"He's finding it a bit chilly as well but he's very excited and has been very helpful for an eight-year-old boy."

On Monday, the couple will travel with Barney to South Africa, to take part in a charity yacht race from Cape Town to Rio. They will then take Barney home to Australia.

In February, Mr Swan returns to Antarctica, where his team plans to install a sustainable rubbish recycling system.