TWO Shildon teenagers are heading for an expedition of a lifetime in the land of the reindeer.

Clare Lowes and Martin Keegan, both aged 16 and in their final year at Sunnydale School, have been chosen for the Lapland Challenge 2002, which will take them 300km inside the Arctic Circle.

They will spend a week in August walking 110km across the Arctic tundra in Lapland, passing through Finland, Sweden and Norway, and crossing the wilderness area accessible only by foot or helicopter, which is home to herds of reindeer.

The challenge is organised by the Royal Star and Garter Home, a charity founded during World War I to care for disabled ex-servicemen and women, and is supported by Internatinal SOS.

Martin and Clare had to demonstrate their physical prowess during a selection weekend in Newark. They had previously been involved in an Outreach project with the Durham Army Cadet Force.

School friends are helping them raise money to cover the costs of their trip with a non-uniform day this Friday. Teachers are also helping.

The Shildon and District Countryside Movement has organised a disco on Monday at Old Shildon Workmen's Club from 1 to 4pm.

The same group is helping Martin arrange a charity abseil from the tower of St John's Church in June.

He said: "It will be surprisingly warm when we are there. In August the weather in the area we will be visiting is 15 degrees on average, and the snows do not set in for another month, so it will be ideal walking weather."