A 23-year-old Southampton Institute graduate is set to become the youngest man ever to walk to the South Pole.

Andrew Cooney is said to be on course to reach the Pole on Thursday, only days after 27-year-old Tom Avery broke the record to become the youngest Briton to reach the Pole.

Mr Cooney, a Scout leader and a Territorial Army lieutenant, had been planning the gruelling 702-mile trek since he was a student at the city's Institute.

His father Terry Cooney, 53, is monitoring his progress from the trip's headquarters and family home back in Thurgarton, near Nottingham.

Mr Cooney Sr said: "Andrew was in super spirits. He has not suffered frost bite but is having problems with a shoulder injury.

"We think the Norwegians had a 24-year-old walk to the Pole but when Andrew does it, it will be a new world record."

Since graduating from Southampton Institute last year, where he completed a four-year course in maritime leisure management, Mr Cooney has been training and fundraising hard.

During his time in Southampton, where Mr Cooney still has many friends and TA colleagues, he lived in Cambridge Road, Portswood.

He set off on the ice on November 11 and has had to endure altitude sickness at 9,000ft and wind chill temperatures dropping as low as minus 52C.

Christmas Day was spent walking in freezing winds with only a cold Christmas pudding and a Christmas cake made by his mother Marilyn.

Mr Cooney Sr said: "He was past the 89th degree with 59 miles to go."

His family has been forced to plough £30,000 into the expedition after a sponsor withdrew at the last moment.

Andrew was hoping to raise £10,000 for research and support for oesophageal cancer, which his father contracted five years ago.

He is part of a five-strong expedition team, including two Spaniards, led by woman explorer Matty McNair, leader of the first women's expedition to the geographic North Pole.

To monitor Mr Cooney's expedition progress or to donate money to oesophageal cancer research, visit the website www.youngestpersontothesouthpole.co.uk