A teenager will learn how to live in one of the world's toughest environments next month.

Craig Smith, 18, will be wrapping up warm and heading to Lapland in northern Sweden for a week-long Arctic survival course.

He applied for the challenge last year after seeing it advertised on a website run by Ray Mears - the television presenter and author who specialises in survival techniques.

Craig, who lives in Sutton will be instructed by Lars Falt, an expert in teaching people how to handle Arctic conditions and a good friend of Mr Mears.

The year 13 South Craven School pupil, who is a fan of Ray Mears's television programmes and books, said: "I'm an outdoorsy kind of person - I do a lot of climbing, hiking and mountain biking. But this will still be a very new experience for me.

"My family has been very supportive. They've really helped out with making sure I'll be able to pay for the right sort of equipment."

He also paid tribute to the help offered by Ultimate Outdoors, the Skipton shop where he works part-time. His Arctic course will take place at a wilderness camp on the Kalix River, where he will stay in a log cabin with no electricity.

To reach this remote location - which is 200km north of the Arctic Circle - he will fly to northern Sweden, then carry on via coach and snowmobile.

He will learn skills such as how to construct emergency shelters, light fires with natural materials and trap animals for food.

Craig is currently studying maths and engineering at A-level and plans to take either engineering or an outdoor studies course at university.

He is also working on completing his Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award.