A local innovative Top-Gear style challenge is raising substantial sums for charity.

BC Club members who are taking it in turns to spend a week driving around Bournemouth and Poole in an old London taxi have raised more than £60,000 and by the time the challenge ends in January, they hope to have raised at least £100,000.

Variety Wessex, which provides support for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children, is the chosen charity for the money.

Each club member who drives the cab has to pay £250 for the privilege and make one addition to the vehicle.

So far these include an outboard engine being fitted, surfboard on the roof, fluffy dice on the rear-view mirror and even a toilet in the place of the passenger seat.

The eye-catching cab also has a Dukes of Hazzard-style air horn and members of the public have been donating as it drives past.

The idea was born after club chairman Shan Seewooruthun sold his car and his fellow members got him a taxi for a joke.

They then decided the £1,500 LTI TX II Hackney Carriage could be used to make some money for charity, which is the objective of the club.

Since its creation 12 years ago the BC Club has raised around £400,000 which has been donated to children’s charities.

Steve Wells of DWP Housing Partnership and a club founder said: “It all began as a bit of a joke and we hoped to raise £15,000.

“But businesses and individuals have been so generous we’ve raised more than £60,000 in 24 weeks, and we have until January before we finish.

“It really is a great gimmick and puts smiles on people’s faces and that encourages them to donate.

“The most important thing is to help the disadvantaged children and we know that charities have seen their revenues reduce since the pandemic struck.

“Now is a really important time to help them and the taxi is one small way of doing that.

“We’d love people to give us a wave or a toot if they see the cab, and they can always donate via the BC Club’s website.”

You can donate on the BC Club’s website: https://www.bc-club.co.uk/