A Melksham man is preparing to drive 3,700 miles across Africa in an old banger to raise money for Help For Heroes.

Andrew Murphy, 48, and colleague Peter Bennett, 44, will cross the Sahara desert in their 1987 Audi 100 in January when they take part in the Banjul Challenge banger rally.

Their route will take them from England through Spain and Portugal and on to Morocco before heading along the west of Africa, across the western Sahara, Mauritania and Senegal, finishing in Banjul in The Gambia in a journey that will last three weeks.

Mr Murphy, who works in the defence industry, said: “It’s something I planned to do a couple of years ago initially. I have a friend in the armed forces who returned from the Middle East with an arm blown off, and I thought this would be a great way of raising some money for Help For Heroes. I have lived in Africa and been to various countries, but this is an area I haven’t been before.

“I suppose I was inspired by people who have cycled from Lands’ End to John O’Groats or walked across England, but I would rather do that in a car. I’m a bit of a petrolhead, but not to the point of being a geek.”

The pair will split their sponsorship between Help For Heroes and Naomi House Children’s Hospice.

Mr Murphy and Mr Bennett, who lives in Hampshire, found their car on the internet and paid £102 for the Swedish-registered vehicle, which they are hoping will complete the journey in one piece.

Once in The Gambia it will be sold, with the proceeds donated to local good causes.

The pair have been working on the engine to get it ready for the challenge.

Mr Murphy said: “It’s got a good solid engine. It’s done 144,000 miles, which isn’t too bad. It’s one of those things where you don’t know what you’re going to find.”

The duo are taking plenty of equipment with them, including shovels, sand ladders and warm sleeping gear for crossing the desert.

The rally group will have to be escorted by armed guards as they cross Mauritania, one of the world’s most dangerous countries.

But Mr Murphy is not letting that put him off. “I’m very excited about it,” he said. “I’m mildly anxious having never done anything like this before. Mauritania is basically a lawless country, but you do get an armed escort.

“My mum’s a bit worried about Mauritania and Peter’s mum’s the same, but on the whole they’re supportive. My girlfriend is taking it in her stride.

“They’re both very good charities. We want to raise as much as possible, we haven’t really set a target. We’ve had a lot of support from friends and family and a lot of help.

Sponsor Team Desert Rats by visiting www.justgiving .com/teamdesertrats.