Fare challenge for friends in Benidorm or Bust rally

And the eight, who all live in the Burnley and Pendle area, have customised two London black cabs for the epic 1,400 mile from Dover to Benidorm.

It has taken months to create a Clarets taxi, decked out in Burnley FC colours, and the second, which is Grease style complete with flames painted on the front and side and the interior decked out with leopard print seats and a glitterball.

The pals, who all work at Nelson's Graham Engineering and have called themselves Lancashire Lads, will be among the hundreds of cars taking part in the rally which sets the challenge to complete the drive in a banger car costing no more than £500.

Team member Ian Fraser said: "All the lads have pitched in with their own cash and a lot of time and effort has gone into making the cabs as eye catching as possible.

The cabs have already had a few outings around Burnley and Nelson where they have been the centre of attention with people hitching rides and having their pictures taken in the passenger seats.

And while the Benidorm or Bust rally is a fun event the aim is to raise as much cash as possible for a variety of good causes.

The Lancashire Lads have chosen the GEM Appeal which provides research and treatment for incurable genetic diseases in children and has funded a laboratory and many expensive items of equipment in helping to better the lives of dying children.

And this is a cause close to their hearts for over the past few years they have raised around £30,000 for the charity.

All the guys are members of The Welding Institute and the society hosts an annual fund rising dinner for the appeal. The friends have organised race nights and also a regular sponsored bike ride to Blackpool.

The GEM Appeal was founded by Rochdale mum Karen Johnson after her two sons, Simon and Mike,both died of of genetic disorders in the early 1990s.

She was approached by a consultant paediatrician with a request for money to be raised to extend the Willink Unit at the Royal Manchester Childrens Hospital and in the past two decades her tireless campaigning has raised more than £2.5M to fund research into genetic conditions.

Last year Karen was presented with the Pride of Britain award in recognition of her dedication.

Ian said: "As soon as I heard about the GEM Appeal I was really touched by it because it is doing so much to help children and we will be publicising it along the route.

"We plan to stop at various places and if people would like a photo with the cab we will be asking for a donation for the appeal."

The cabs will be leaving Dover on Tuesday, June 6th, and expect to land in Benidorm on Saturday June 10th. They will be travelling via Rouen, Bordeaux and Zaragoza.

Along with Ian the team members are Chris Hogan, John Harrison, Mark Wolstenholme, Mark Fitzpatrick, Paul Ashworth, Ian Dawes and Steve FaganFor more information about the rally go to http://benidormorbust.co.uk or to sponsor the lads click onto

https://www.justgiving.com/Lancashire-Lads