It is described as an epic challenge featuring a four-day road trip around Europe.

And three men have embarked on the ultimate fundraising drive of travelling 3,500 miles in a rusty car to raise vital money for The Fishermen's Mission.

Led by Senior Superintendent Tim Jenkins, mission area officer for The Fishermen's Mission, based in Lowestoft, he is part of the Three Alberts On Tour team that is currently driving across Europe.

The Rusty Rex Banger Challenge runs between July 11 and July 15, with competitors driving 3,500 miles across five countries as they travel from Rex to Nice – featuring the vineyards of Reims, amazing lakes, mountains, Monaco and more.

Ahead of the epic banger rally, Senior Supt Jenkins said: 'Myself, South Coast of England Supt Nick O'Neill and Andy Malcolm, regional fundraiser for the east of England, are three guys who work for The Fishermen's Mission.

'We care passionately about the work we do and each year we have to raise money to help us continue the good work. As an organisation we receive no government or lottery funding.

'We look after both current and retired commercial fishermen and their families, and in the last 10 years 100 fishermen have lost their lives doing the job they love, putting fish on our plates.'

Senior Supt Jenkins came up with the idea to take on the challenge as a fundraising venture for The Fishermen's Mission.

'We used to have the big fish fayre here in Lowestoft that used to raise a lot of money that we need to be here in Lowestoft,' he said. 'We had looked at creative ways of keeping us going and as I am a bit of a petrol head and I love cars I saw this challenge and felt it was a way of us creatively raising some money.'

The trio, who plan to share the driving, navigating and rest duties over two hour periods, are completing the route in a Chrysler PT Cruiser with a 2.2 diesel engine.

Senior Supt Jenkins said: 'In a sense, we are going into the unknown with a touch of apprehension and excitement, but some of the fishermen, who go out to sea never know what they will be faced with.

'There is a bit of a similarity, as each time our fishermen go out they never know what they will encounter.'

Support given

Thanking a number of businesses and individuals who had supported the trio, Senior Supt Tim Jenkins said: 'Lots of people have helped us out, including Seletar Signs in Lowestoft, who provided all the signs free of charge, Euro Car Parts in Lowestoft and East Coast College Lowestoft campus mechanical students, who did the service of the car.'

Among the sponsors who have their names and logos installed on the vehicle are the McLeod family, John Lake Shellfish Ltd, Viviers UK Ltd, Lynn Shellfish, Monteum Ltd, Windcat Workboats, North Norfolk Fishermen's Society, ABP Lowestoft, Sunderland Marine, Broadland Memorials, NFFO and the Billing family.

Senior Supt Jenkins added: 'We are aiming to raise £15,000, and to get the amount we have raised so far is amazing.'

With Albert being the name given to the Fishermen's Mission iconic collection box, there are three Albert boxes glued firmly to the roof of the banger.

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/3albertsontour to donate.