WEST Somerset duo Alex Neville-Payne and Jamie Short will be harnessing all the horsepower they can muster for a cross-continent challenge in aid of local children's charity CLOWNS.

And they'll tackle the 2,000-mile drive in an old Mini which has cost them less than £500.

The pair are taking part in the Coyote Rally, which takes competitors from Paris, through Munich to Prague and back to the finish in Amsterdam.

The rules state that 19-year-old Alex, of Wootton Courtenay, and Jamie, 18, of Minehead, could only spend £500 on their rally car.

And as a die-hard Mini fanatic, there was only one machine of choice for Alex, the designated driver of the team.

Co-driver Jamie is a keen motorsport fan and the pair have been supported by team mechanics Brett Rendell and Rick Ninnes.

The boys will catch a ferry from Dover to Calais to begin their adventure next Sunday (April 5).

All money raised during the trip will be donated to CLOWNS, which provides professional outreach support, health clinics, advice and play opportunities for the under fives and their parents in rural areas of the district.

"It provides brilliant early years support to those who otherwise would not get it and would struggle in their early years schooling," said Jamie.

"We are appealing to people to sponsor us in aid of CLOWNS - every little helps."

Alex and Jamie, pictured with Jackie Barnes of CLOWNS, will also be drumming up support for their trip outside the Minehead branch of Subway tomorrow (Saturday) and next Saturday.

Jamie added: "We would like to thank all the local businesses that have already sponsored us, especially Dave Silvera at PC Webshop for his generous donation."

Anyone wanting to sponsor the team can contact Jamie on 07875 620408.

Photo: Steve Guscott