Land Rover, 69, and caravan, 79, on England road trip

A 69-year-old Land Rover called George is being driven around England while it tows a 79-year-old caravan called Mildred in a bid to raise money for charity.

Derek Hernaman, left Lynmouth in Devon, on his 71st birthday on 8 March, to start his 3,200 mile-long (5,150 km) journey.

The agricultural engineer is fundraising for Bowel Cancer UK after his 52-year-old sister and a 43-year-old friend died from the disease. He is also raising funds for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Mr Hernaman said after he had travelled around England, mostly on roads close to the coast, he hoped to end the journey in Lynmouth on either the 22 or 23 April.

On Tuesday, Mr Hernaman told BBC Radio Devon he had driven more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) and had encountered some difficulties with his Series 1 Land Rover.

He said: “George has had a few issues in the last few days…

“It’s nothing but to be expected at that age of Land Rover.”

He said the main problem so far had been with the vehicle’s ignition although there had also been some brake problems.

“Thanks to FaceTime and my very good friends Nigel Webber and Will Webster we seem to have been able to sort things out,” he added.

Mildred, the caravan he is towing, measures 6ft (1.8m) square and holds a bed, a cooker and storage space for food and clothing.

He said: “I’m basically towing a bed.

“The door to the opening of the caravan is over the front hitch which is quite rare.

“It’s a Safari Minor, they are very, very rare – there could be just two others in the country.”

Mr Hernaman, originally from Croyde and now living in Exmoor, said “a lot of very kind people” had donated money along his journey.

“There are so many kind people out there,” he added.