DRIVING a 1,800 mile banger rally in a car painted as a leopard has helped three team members raise £1,000 for charity. Find us by the Wayside was a line-up made up of Angus Foster, from Sandy, Pete Leverton, from Stevenage and Matthew Johnson, from Surre

DRIVING a 1,800 mile banger rally in a car painted as a leopard has helped three team members raise £1,000 for charity.

Find us by the Wayside was a line-up made up of Angus Foster, from Sandy, Pete Leverton, from Stevenage and Matthew Johnson, from Surrey.

The three men recently took part in the Home2Rome journey from Calais to Rome to raise funds for the Garden House Hospice, in Gillison Close, Letchworth GC.

After a trip which saw them set off from Wayside Citroen in Letchworth GC, stop off at the town's Moon's Sandwich Bar for supplies, be pulled over by police in Monte Carlo and finish outside the Coliseum in Rome, the car was scrapped in a Roman scrap yard.

Participant Angus Foster said: "In total we have raised £1,000 for the hospice.

"We are very grateful for the support and assistance we have had from all our sponsors, whether monetary or physical help.

"In particular the technicians at Wayside Citroen who did a great job ensuring the car made it all the way to Rome - a total mileage of 1,800 miles in four days without any problems."

Altogether around £75,000 has been raised for the hospice since it became The Comet's charity of the year.

To increase this amount the hospice is looking for your help in lighting its Christmas tree as part of its Lights of Life appeal.

The lights are a way of remembering your loved ones this Christmas and with each donation made a tree light will be dedicated to someone special and donors will receive a personalised dedication certificate for them to keep.

The amount donated will not be stated.

The tree, which will be situated in the Hospice's garden, will be illuminated on December 3 at 4pm and donations will be accepted until January 6, 2007. To dedicate a light to your loved one, please complete the form in this week's Comet and return it to the hospice.