REVVING up for a Top Gear-style European car rally are a trio of Copeland fundraisers.

Joy Hetherington, Katie Bartley and Kerry-Beth Quinn are gearing up for the challenge which will see them travel through nine countries in four days.

Each day they will receive a set of co-ordinates to follow and challenges to complete.

The trio, who will be driving a car inspired by Ready, Steady, Cook chef Ainsley Harriott, are raising cash for the local cause, Lily’s Voice appeal.

Lily Tyson is a nine-year-old Copeland girl who suffers from Rett Syndrome. Money is being raised to buy an Eye-Gaze communication device, costing £12,000, to enable her to communicate with her family.

Katie, from Egremont, says the team wants to raise cash for Lily by completing the rally, which starts on August 19.

She said: “We are taking part in the Two Ball Rally driving round Europe taking in nine countries in four days. These are St Omer Northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco and then back to Nice in Southern France.”

They are doing the challenge in their 19-year-old Ford Fiesta named Ainsley.

The trio said: “As with any rally we needed a theme so we chose Ready Steady Cook and turned our fiesta into the Flaming Chariot. We managed to get in touch with Ainsley Harriott himself and he sent us autographed photographs which we have turned into stickers and put them on the car.”

Over 40 teams from the UK are set to take part for different causes. For updates on the trio, search Flaming Chariot of Ainsley Harriott on Facebook.