TWO friends from Shropshire have driven from Oswestry and across Europe to Croatia as part of a national fundraising rally.

This month, Jack Thomas, 24 from Oswestry and Zoe Cleeton, 23 from Welshpool – undertook the mammoth drive in their pink Nissan Micra, along with 15 other cars, to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Jack was delighted with the amount raised for their chosen charity from the Top Gear-style challenge – which totalled more than £1,300.

He explained that cancer is something “family and friends have all suffered with”.

He added: “We couldn’t believe how much we have raised.

“We can’t thank everyone enough for their help and support.”

The drive was part of the Odd Ball Rally’s event named the Banger Bust Up, in which participants are to buy a ‘banger’ with a budget of just £500.

Zoe and Jack – who took it in turns to drive along the way – met with the other participants of the rally in Folkestone in Kent to begin the cross-country journey, which took in spectacular scenery such as the Swiss Alps.

The drive was in full-swing on Friday, July 12 as the pair and other drivers boarded a ferry from Dover to Calais.

The rally saw them clocking up an impressive 1,783 miles, travelling through seven countries and ending at their final destination of Split in Croatia on Monday, July 15.

Jack and Zoe camped at various sites along the way, taking in the sights of the French countryside, the Swiss Alps, and Venice in Italy, as they travelled.

Zoe said: “Italy was the best but the scenery in the Alps was impeccable.”

“It was tiring doing more than 1,700 miles to get there,” Jack added.

“It was brilliant. An amazing experience to travel across from England to Croatia,”

Anyone still wishing to donate can do so by visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jack-thomas13