TWO intrepid students are going on the adventure of a lifetime when they drive a 14-year-old, faded blue Nissan Micra half way around the world for charity.

Friends Harry Fox, 21, from Alcester and Simon Amor, 22, of Evesham, plan to take their £50 on-line auction car on a massive trek from London to Mongolia in the summer

Ecology student Harry, who is in his final year at Durham University, stumbled across the event's website when he was searching for something to do after they finish their studies - and they both thought it sounded the best idea.

The pair, who have dubbed themselves the Mongol Frauds, are going to be raising money for a number of charities along the way, including an organisation that helps fight poverty in Africa and also for the Mongolian charity The Wildlife Conservation Research Unit.

Donations will also go towards their travelling costs and visas and they expect to raise about £2,500 to cover it all.

The 8,000-mile trip, organised by the Institute of Adventures Research, will see 80 teams tackle two deserts and five mountain ranges in cars of no more than one litre in engine size.

There will be no back-up along the way and the trip will end with a black-tie ball in the Mongolian capital, Ulaan Baatar.

Harry said: "All we need now is to raise a load of money for the charity and head east on our rather crazy adventure.

''We still don't know how we'll get home and it's going to be a leap into the unknown as we don't know what to expect or quite how to get there - but it will be a challenge and an unforgettable experience.

"We appeal to anyone who can offer anything, whether it be a couple of pounds, a jerry can for petrol, compass, spare tyres, a tent or just want to donate to charity to support us."

Harry and Simon will be visiting Stratford in their car on April 14 and 21 to drum up support and plan more dates in Alcester, Redditch and Evesham in the next few months.

They are also hoping to attract sponsorship from local businesses.

They will also be holding a band night, Mongolian-themed barbecue and a number of other fundraising events in the run-up to the July trip.

Visit www.mongolfrauds.co.uk for more details and to sponsor them or call Harry on 0781 4582276.