Four friends who grew up in Thorpe St Andrew are driving across Europe in bargain-basement cars to raise money for charity.

The group is made up of Angela Laycock and Keiran Harrison – who are both on gap years before attending university – as well as mechanical engineering apprentice Joe Bone and Centre Parcs worker Harry Gordon, all of who are former Thorpe School pupils.

They are all 18 or 19 years old and embarking on the trip to raise money for Meningitis Trust and Action for Children.

They are due to arrive at their final destination in Bratislava, Slovakia today, having set off last Friday to drive through France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy and Austria in cars colourfully decorated with designs of their choosing.

The group have split into two two-person teams and have been taking part in daily challenges to test navigational, language and negotiation skills, set by the organisation Student Adventures, who provide students with the opportunity to raise money through such challenging endeavours.

The first task was to find and decorate cars to carry out the drive under one of two conditions: either a model that is older than they are or which costs less than �250. Angela said: 'We're all really into cars, and were attracted by the prospect of decorating the cars and seeing Europe.

'And we've also been involved with charity work ever since we were little.

'Keiran and I chose to raise money for the Meningitis Trust as it's something that affects a lot of people and at any point you or a loved one could be in that situation.'

The group also held a car boot sale and a quiz night for charity and have already raised about �700.

Angela and Keiran have purchased an old Rover for the trip at a cost of �220.

If you would like to sponsor either Angela and Keiran or Joe and Harry, just visit www.justgiving.com/Keiran-Harrison or www.justgiving.com/ Joe-n-harry-b-or-b

Are you raising money for charity in an unusual way? Call Local Life editor David Freezer on 01603 772418 or email david.freezer@archant.co.uk