Derbyshire firm builds sledges for Sir Ranulph Fiennes expedition

Steelworkers in Derbyshire are playing a key role in an attempt by explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes to become the first man to walk across Antarctica during the southern winter.

Next year, the 68 year old adventurer will lead a six-man team 2000 miles across the ice shelf in temperatures as low as -90 Celsius.

The vital supplies that they will need to complete the six-month trek will be carried on 14 special steel sledges known as "skoots".

These are being built by William Twigg Ltd, an engineering company based in Matlock.

Fiennes will be on foot but the skoots will be pulled by two giant bulldozers following on behind.

Fiennes and his team asked William Twigg to construct the giant sledges because of their expertise in steel construction for other projects in the Antarctic and the Falklands.