A European road trip challenge kick-started by a Northamptonshire man has raised £25,000 for a Down’s Syndrome charity.

Mr Carl Baldy’s Rust Bucket Rally called upon car enthusiasts from across the UK to embark on a 2,500-mile European road trip in cars purchased for less than £500 each.

Mr Baldy, along with 57 others, took part in the rally and subsequently raised £25,000 for Northamptonshire-based Down’s Syndrome charity, Ups N Downs.

“This money will keep them going for a couple of years. We managed to raise £25,000 and donations are still coming in so hopefully we might even get close to £30,000,” said a proud Mr Baldy.

The trip took the drivers through France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy and the majority of the drivers returned home with their £500 vehicles still intact and running smooth.

“Twenty-one cars went but unfortunately we had a head gasket ‘fatality’ so one car had to be left somewhere in the south of Germany,” said Mr Baldy.