THREE COMMITTED fundraisers from Tiverton churned through the miles in an epic fundraising challenge to raise money for a local charity.

Robert Hodgson, alongside his son Stephen and daughter-in-law Marisa, spent last weekend touring the country in a clapped-out 42-year-old Triumph Dolomite to raise funds for the Tiverton Sundarban Group.

Despite a few hiccups in the process, including a wheel bearing disintegrating, the trio managed to clock up a staggering 1461 miles in the car, affectionately known as Dolly.

The Tiverton Sundarban Group is a local charity that supports healthcare and education in the deprived Bangladeshi village, the tour took them from Coventry, the centre of England, to the four corners of the country at Berwick on Tweed, Lowestoft, Lizard, Land’s End before returning home to Mid Devon.

Robert says the trip had both wonderful and dramatic moments. He said: “After a wet start on Friday the sky cleared and we reached Berwick on a clear frosty evening under a brilliant full moon.

“That coffee stop and the next one at Wetherby were magical, as was sunrise near King’s Lynn.

“After a full English breakfast at Lowestoft and a quick glance to the east,We had to suffer the M25, which was choked up with traffic for the London Marathon, and arrived in Devon by about 4pm in the company of one of the other cars.

“We paused in Uplowman to pick up my wife Barbara for the run to Cornwall. As we were parking a wheel bearing disintegrated on our drive.

“Breaking down 1200 miles into a long journey is a real pain but doing it outside your own workshop must be the least bad option! I fitted a spare and crossed fingers for the rest of the journey but it was not to be."

“We reached the Lizard, enjoyed a good night’s rest in Penzance and joined the others at Land’s End on Sunday before retiring from the final leg back to the Midlands with dignity more or less intact.

He added: “We had visited all five points and covered 1461 miles door to door, just short of the promised 1500, so honour was satisfied.”

The adventure has so far raised £940 for the two charities and Robert thanked all those who had donated so far.

He said: “I can’t say thank you enough to everyone who has supported us and followed our adventure.

“This wonderful fundraising total will make an amazing difference to lives in many parts of the world.”

If you would like to donate to the cause, visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/teamh5pointtour.