EXPLORER Richard Spink will be enjoying a taste of West Somerset during a ten-week expedition that could help save the earth.

Among Richard's rations when he set off on a journey across the Greenland ice cap on Sunday was chocolate from Minehead-based Nutcombe Chocolates and cheese from Tower Farms at Lydeard St Lawrence.

Richard, from Bristol, and fellow explorer Raoul Surcouf are attempting the first carbon neutral double crossing of Greenland by sailing across the North Atlantic and then completing a return ski traverse of the ice cap - more than 550 miles.

During the trip they will carry out climate research for the Bristol Glaciology Centre and the results of their work will also raise awareness of climate change to more than 15,000 pupils in partner schools around the UK and Jersey.

In addition, the expedition will hopefully raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Richard and Raoul will each carry about 50kg of food, including the chocolate and cheese, and will need to consume some 8,000 calories a day.

To keep their energy levels up, the pair will 'graze' on nuts and chocolate to supplement their main diet of dehydrated food.

Richard's father Martin, who lives in Minehead, spotted the Nutcombe Chocolates stall at one of the Friday weekly farmers' markets in the town and asked owners Lorna and Richard Robbins if they would be interested in sponsoring the expedition.

"When we looked at the website and saw what they were doing we were happy to help," said Lorna.

"It is important that we are all aware of what climate change is doing to our planet and this sort of research is so valuable.

"We are looking forward to receiving photographs of the intrepid pair munching on our chocolate bars during their voyage and on the ice in Greenland."

The explorers have been given 70 bars of the couple's handmade chocolate.

Information on their progress can be found at http://www.carbonneutralexpeditions.com">www.carbonneutralexpeditions.com or http://www.nutcombe-chocs.co.uk">www.nutcombe-chocs.co.uk and at the Exmoor Producers Association shop in Friday Street, Minehead.

Lorna is pictured handing over the chocolate to Richard when he visited the EPA shop.