Motorist Shaun's European tour

But for motorist Shaun Carroll his journey from across the continent was certainly no holiday.

He had to take in the sights through the windows of his clapped-out Lexus i200 with 150,000 miles on the clock.

His trip from Dinnington to Kent, then into France, Monte Carlo, Italy - including a stay near the Leaning Tower of Pisa - Luxembourg, Germany and Belgium was also affected by the ongoing French fuel crisis.

Dad-of-one Shaun (23) was part of a team of six drivers from Dinnington taking part in the Fireball Rally - a challenge that involved using a car worth no more than £600 to complete the 2,500-mile route.

Shaun, of Manor Road, Dinnington, said: “It was a brilliant experience but it was a lot harder than I expected.

“The fuel crisis in France made it really difficult and the organisers advised us to stay out of the country as much as we could.

“It meant that one day we arrived in France at 7.30am and didn’t stop driving until 11.30pm.”

Shaun said his £520 Lexus i200 was “brilliant” during the trip and said he had raised more than £800 for Hallam FM’s Cash4Kids charity, which helps ill children and their families.

He also promoted his journey with a visit to Dinnington Primary School - where son Joseph (5) is a pupil.

For more information on Shaun’s journey or to sponsor him visit https://hallamfmcashforkids.everydayhero.com/uk/jsfireballrally.