CHILDREN at a Worcestershire school got a first-hand insight into the impact of global warming - by linking up with two intrepid Antarctic explorers.

Pupils at Tibberton CE First School, near Droitwich, took part in an assembly about climate change and then watched a presentation by Robert Harper, sustainable technologies manager at npower.

They then got the chance to take part in a live telephone link with Worcester-based npower employee, Mark Nicol, who is in Antarctica accompanying the famous explorer, Robert Swan OBE.

They were able to ask him questions live from Antarctica about what it's like living there - and whether he's seen any penguins yet.

A spokesman for the school said: "The children really enjoyed their live link up to Antarctica via satellite. It helped to bring to life all that they have been learning recently about climate change and the world around them."

npower has sent Mark Nicol on the expedition to help install two small wind turbines, a solar photo-voltaic panel and four solar thermal panels which npower has provided for the Ebase - an education base that Robert Swan's company, 2041, have built in Antarctica.

Speaking from Antarctica, Mr Nicol said: "The reason we're here at the Ebase is to get children more aware of the danger that Antarctica faces from climate change."

Mr Swan added: "At our 2041 E-Base we will be using green, innovative and sustainable materials and applying them to the cleanest, coldest place on earth. As the last unspoilt wilderness on the planet, Antarctica is currently protected by a treaty prohibiting drilling and mining until 2041.

The E-Base is located on King George Island, the largest of the South Shetland Islands.

Human habitation of King George Island is limited to research stations belonging to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, South Korea, Peru, Poland, Russia, and Uruguay.