Builders merchant Jewson has donated £3,000 worth of building materials to help Sir Ranulph Fiennes and his team succeed in their forthcoming expedition, The Coldest Journey.
The Coldest Journey is the first-ever attempt to cross the trans-Antarctic continent during the polar winter. The expedition, which will see the pioneers withstand temperatures as low as -90°C and travelling mostly in complete darkness, aims to raise £6m for Seeing is Believing, a global charitable initiative to fight avoidable blindness.

Jewson's materials have been used in the construction of two specially-engineered cabooses (sledge-mounted living quarters), which will house the six-man team along with their equipment and fuel for the entire 2,000-mile journey.

The materials were donated by Jewson's Stafford branch, where manager Lloyd Norman commented: "It's extremely rare that you get the opportunity to become involved in such an exciting project as this, and we're proud to have been able to play a part, alongside other companies who have contributed materials."

He added that it had also been a great pleasure to be given the opportunity to visit the ice-strengthened expedition ship SA Agulhas, and to meet Sir Ranulph Fiennes.