British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes is to lead the first team on foot across Antarctica during the southern winter, and specialist sock manufacturer Bridgedale has been chosen to help fend off frostbite.

Its WoolFusion Summits socks have been chosen by the team to keep their feet dry, warm and comfortable throughout the expedition.

The Coldest Journey starts from the Russian base of Novoloskaya to Captain Scott’s base at McMurdo Sound via the South Pole. With temperatures hitting -90C the journey will take six months and span over 2,000 miles, mostly in complete darkness

The team is attempting to raise $10 million for Seeing is Believing, a global initiative to prevent and treat avoidable blindness.

Bridgedale received the gold award for best walking sock for the seventh consecutive year, voted for by the UK ramblers association.