TWO Cornish couples are to follow in the footsteps of Michael Palin and cross the Sahara - but this time it's for charity.

Ben Gowers and Jessie Higginson, from Falmouth, and Dougal Rickard and Emma Rippon, from Camborne, plan to take part in the Plymouth to Dakar Challenge 2005, leaving on December 29.

The aim is to raise money for their chosen charity - in their case the Royal Victoria Hospital in Gambia, which Jessie's uncle spent two years running - by driving a left-hand-drive car across the desert in a month.

At the end all the cars are auctioned, with the funds being distributed to a selection of Gambian charities.

Ms Higginson - one half of the Travelling Pasties team - said: "We're all very excited. There's been so much planning and we just can't wait to go now. We're really looking forward to it."