THE Barcelona Banger has made it all the way from Littleport to Barcelona on its fundraising trip. But drivers Marc Nolan, Mark Southgate and Ian Allen lost the first two gears on their customised £200 taxi on the second leg from Biarritz in France to Ba

THE Barcelona Banger has made it all the way from Littleport to Barcelona on its fundraising trip.

But drivers Marc Nolan, Mark Southgate and Ian Allen lost the first two gears on their customised £200 taxi on the second leg from Biarritz in France to Barcelona.

The taxi was on its last legs as the team crossed the border into Spain, when a leaking radiator took a choice moment to leak all over a customs officer's foot.

Mr Nolan, who has taken part in more than 10 long distance rallies , said this was the hardest one he had ever done.

"We made it to the Barcelona checkpoint with only five minutes to spare, totally drained of life," he said. "The hotel was a medieval castle with a mile long drive which destroyed what was left of the gearbox. We averaged less than 40 miles per hour for the whole trip and were very pleased to see the bar at the end of it."

While the taxi got a leisurely journey home on the back of an AA van, the team decided to take a flight back.

The taxi run raised money to buy a special customised car for disabled youngster Joshua Wilson.

Now the team will make a more leisurely journey to Little Downham to deliver the car to Joshua's family.