Phew! The socks that never stink: Farmer creates hosiery from goat hair that doesn't trap bacteria meaning they can last up to a year without being washed

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The unmistakable whiff of a pair of smelly socks is enough to put a strain on even the most harmonious of marriages.

Now a Devon farmer claims to have come up with a solution to cheesy feet, which goes by the medical name bromodosis.

His answer involves angora wool, better known as mohair, the luxury material that normally features in exclusive, and extremely expensive, designer clothes.

If true, they are the holy grail of hosiery. Steve Whitley claims his Corrymoor brand of socks (pictured) do not trap bacteria the way wool or cotton socks do, leaving them smelling just fine

Bizarrely, the feet have more sweat glands than any other part of the body and the smell is created when this sweat comes into contact with bacteria on the skin.

Farmer Steve Whitley says socks created from the fleece of angora kid goats do not trap the bacteria in the same way as rougher wool or cotton.

As a result, he claims the mohair socks can, in theory, be worn for as long as a year without smelling or needing to be washed.

Originally he sold the socks for their comfort and durability. It was only the feedback from astonished customers that alerted him to their unique non-smelling point.

Mr Whitley said: ‘Customers began telling us that they could wear them for days without them becoming stiff or smelly.

‘It was the men who were more forthcoming about this, but then women began writing in. One orchestra leader boasted that he’d had his for a year without washing them.

‘Unlike cotton, mohair fibres don’t trap bacteria that cause problems with foot hygiene.

‘As such, our socks can be worn day after day, week after week, in extreme conditions without any problems from foot odour or discomfort.’

Mohair is usually an expensive material but the socks (pictured) range in price from £9 a pair to £21.50 for the elite Woodlander Plus 4 pair

Bear Grylls, Fiona Bruce, Clare Balding and Stephen Fry are among celebrities who have tried his Corrymoor Mohair brand. They have all promised to report back on how long their socks can withstand the heat.

Mohair, shorn from angora goats, is prized in the fashion world for its strength, warmth and resilience.

Less well known is that the first shearings from kids are highly absorbent and prevent bacterial build-up by drawing sweat away from the skin.

Mr Whitley, 65, said he wears the same pair of socks round the farm for up to a fortnight before risking putting them in the washing machine and the ever present threat that one will go missing.

He said: ‘We received a letter from a lady who had recently lost her husband. He was so attached to his socks that he asked to be buried in them.’

While Mohair is an expensive material, the socks range in price from £9 for ankle versions to £10 for standard designs.

The most expensive option is £21.50 for a pair of the over the knee Woodlander Plus 4, which are said to be ‘perfect for fishing, shooting and wearing with breeks’.