British Antarctic research station to shut for second winter as cracks in ice grow

Having changed location earlier this year to avoid being cut off, the Halley VI station will close again over fears that the ice shelf it stands on may break

A British research station in Antarctica is being shut down for the second winter in a row following concerns over growing cracks in the 150-metre thick ice shelf on which it stands.

The Halley VI station, which is parked on the Brunt ice shelf, will be shut down between March and November 2018, with the 14-strong staff who had been gearing up for the winter stint redeployed elsewhere in Antarctica or brought home to the UK.