A CENTURY after Captain Lawrence Oates joined Scott's ill-fated expedition to the South Pole, three Royal Dragoon Guards are setting off to follow in his footsteps.

Their aim is to walk to the Geographic South Pole, pulling their own sleds with food and equipment, as Scott and Oates did in 1912.

The intrepid trio are due to set off on Sunday.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.