It's Rome or bust in an old £100 banger for a Norfolk team of “Flaming Idiots” hoping to raise funds for charity with a bold mission.

It's Rome or bust in an old £100 banger for a Norfolk team of “Flaming Idiots” hoping to raise funds for charity with a bold mission.

The three-strong madcap enthusiastists were joining 140 other fund-raisers across the Channel last night for a daring trip to Italy, which is being organised by Home2Rome.

The 1500-mile journey, which officially started in Calais yesterday afternoon , should end on Monday if the elderly Maroon Volvo 850 stays the course.

Emma Ralph, who is also vice-chairman of Stalham Farmers' Club, is determined to get to Rome and just hopes that their sturdy chariot makes the trip.

She plans to share the driving with colleague David Moar, of the agricultural buying group, Anglia Farmers, and one of their directors, Norfolk farmer Peter Cargill.

Emma is hoping that the Volvo, which has more than 175,000 miles on the clock, will get to the official start from her office at Keswick Hall, near Norwich. When she and David took the car out for a trial run the night before their departure, the radiator sprang a leak by the side of the A47 near Brundall.

“We're really thrilled by the generosity of so many members, suppliers and distributors of Anglia Farmers,” said Emma, who said that more than £3,000 had been raised for the East Anglian Air Ambulance and the Big C Appeal.

“If we get to Rome, we plan to drive back but we've plane tickets just in case,” she added.

Follow the progress of Emma and the Flaming Idiots on www.edp24.co.uk /forums under Community Noticeboard