A RENOWNED adventurer used an unusual substitute for salt tablets to help boost energy levels during a trek to the North Pole.

In April, Swindon explorer, adventurer and industrialist David Hempleman-Adams made it to the pole alongside four wounded soldiers from the Royal Dragoon Guards.

The team was one of five taking part in the 110kms Marmont Cup race.

And Mr Hempleman-Adams said the team thrived on pork scratchings as a substitute for the energy-giving tablets.

“Pork crackling got us to the pole”, he said. “We each ate two packets a day to fuel us to the top."

The unusual dietary technique came after Mr Hempleman-Adams, the first person in history to reach the geographic and magnetic North and South Poles as well as climb the highest peaks in all seven continents, got in touch with Graham Jebb, the founding director of crackling company, Mr Trotter's.

Mr Jebb said: “I was delighted to hear from David - it tickled me greatly to hear that pork scratchings are his ‘super-food’ of choice for trekking to the pole.

"If I never make it to a pole myself I’m very happy to support David, an amazing adventurer, and know that our snacks will be fuelling his explorations all over the world.”

With a Mr Trotter's flag in tow, the UK team set off on April 14 from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, in Norway.

And the crackling certainly worked, with Team UK the first to arrive at the pole.

Mr Trotter’s Great British Pork Crackling is produced by Raygray Snacks in Staffordshire.

It was launched by Mr Jebb with food writers Tom Parker Bowles and Matthew Fort in 2011.

The range includes Mr Trotter’s Original, English Mustard, and Jalapeno Pork Cracklings.

For more information on the crackling log on to www.mrtrotter.com.