HE'S travelled to Nelson Mandela's cell on Robben Island, appeared on a US TV show and met pop band Westlife.

But now Trellech Primary School's well-travelled mascot Dai the Dragon is facing his toughest journey yet - to the North Pole.

The legend was born seven years ago when Trellech's head teacher Steve King, 37, from Rogerstone, bought Dai in a shop on Duke Street, Cardiff.

Since then, Dai has travelled with friends and pupils from Trellech as well as Mr King's former schools Osbaston and Shirenewton to 16 countries.

His total travelling distance is estimated to be over 236,000 miles, the equivalent of half way to the moon.

Mr King said: "I bought him really to give the chldren a concept of distance so they could hold him and say 'Wow, he's been there' and point out the places he'd gone on a map.

"I've taken him to London and New York personally but pupils and friends have snapped him in India, Egypt, Turkey and Australia among others.

"When I was in New York, a breakfast TV show beamed to millions on the east coast was being filmed live and the hosts even posed for shots with Dai."

The globetrotter has also travelled to the Pyramids in Egypt, Niagara Falls and been pictured on the steps in Philadephia made famous in the Rocky films.

Mr King added: "I have a friend in radio and he photographed Dai with a lot of pop stars like Lemar and Bananarama. Sharlene Spiteri from Texas took a shine to him, and Westlife thought he was great and said they'd write a song about him one day."

Next month, Dai is due to travel to the University of Seattle and be handed over to Professor Roger Anderson.

An acquaintance of Mr King, Professor Anderson will be going to the North Pole to conduct experiments on ice flow - and Dai is set to accompany him.

  • You can see more pictures of Dai and keep up to date with his adventures on his dedicated website, www.daithedragon.ik.org.