CONGLETON sixth former James Benson is flying out to Norway tomorrow as part of an arctic schools expedition.

James, aged 17, is a pupil at Dane Valley High School, and is one of 28 A-level geography students from Cheshire making the trip.

The 22-day expedition will involve camping in a remote, unpopulated area, and studying landscape, rivers, plant life and the effect of humans on the environment.

Each student has had to raise £1,100 for the trip over the last 18 months through fund-raising events and sponsorship.

The group is being led by Michael Thomas, a geography teacher at Chester's Catholic High School.

''The students will venture into a valley where few people have had an opportunity to go, and do research in an uninhabitated area which few have had the chance to do,'' he said.

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