A DARING Midland student has set off on an intrepid expedition to study remote glaciers in Iceland.

David Benhamou, from Redditch, is to examine Klofajökull on the Eiriksjokull plateau in the centre of the country which was last researched 15 years ago.

The 21-year-old, who studies geography, is part of the ‘Glacier in a Greenhouse’ team from Durham University who hope to inspire future glaciologists.

The students will also make recommendations on the challenges and solutions to working in extreme environments.

Mr Benhamou said: “It is testament to the rugged terrain and sometimes severe weather that a destination such as Iceland still offers relatively unexplored areas.

“We hope that our study will complement past and future research into glaciers and their importance as barometers for changing climates.”

Klofajokull developed in the Little Ice Age, from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

Its snout is accessible only by a four wheel drive so the team is using three Land Rovers, one of which is from the Go Beyond Bursary and one donated directly from Land Rover.

Lecturer David Evans said he is using his “trusty” 21-year-old Defender/110 on its 12-day tour of Iceland.

Dr Rita Gardner, director of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) who awarded the bursary to the team, said: “As well as going beyond their normal limits and boundaries the team will be supporting one of the Society’s objectives which is to promote the wider understanding of our world.”

Midland firm Land Rover is supporting the £10,000 expedition.

Dr Gardner added: “This project, made possible through our 25-year partnership with Land Rover, shows the power of geography and the dynamic environment it creates.”

Last year’s winners travelled almost 25,000km across Europe to the Iranian border over a 12-week period to gain an understanding of the issues faced by communities living on fault lines.