All-female team of British soldiers become first women’s group to cross Antarctica using only muscle power

Team celebrate after skiing a total of 1,056 miles, navigating crevasse fields and pulling sleds weighing 80kgs

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has described the group as 'an inspiration' (Facebook/exicemaiden)

A team of British soldiers has become the first all-female group to cross Antarctica using only muscle power.

After spending 62 days on the ice, the British Army's Ice Maiden Expedition crossed the finish line at Hercules Inlet on Saturday.

The team skied a total of 1,056 miles, travelling coast to coast navigating crevasse fields and pulling sleds weighing 80kg. Temperatures hit as low as -40C.

The British Army tweeted images of their quest and offered congratulations to the team describing them as "ordinary women doing extraordinary things."

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said the team was "an inspiration to us all and are role models to young people across the country."

AP