The chance to drive a black cab whilst raising funds for charity is a dream to be realised by local businessmen.

The BC Club, based in Bournemouth and Poole, which has raised £400,000 for charity since 2011, has acquired a London black cab which each member will have to drive for a week, with the aim of raising more than £15,000.

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

Emblazoned with the logos of members’ businesses, the taxi will become a common sight across the conurbation.

Each week the new driver will pay £250 for the privilege of driving it and must do at least 150 miles, as well as making one upgrade to the car.

With 39 members, the BC Club’s taxi will be on the road until at least Christmas, and members of the public are being encouraged to donate through the club’s website.

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.

Shan said: “Our members are a bunch of generous individuals all eager to do their bit for charity whilst having a bit of light-hearted fun as we go.  

“Whilst we’ve not set a specific fundraising target, we’re hoping to raise more than £15,000, which will be donated to Variety Wessex that does such wonderful work.

“We’d love to get people involved and if you see us driving around do give us a toot – but also donate to the cause.

“It’s a bit of a Top Gear-type challenge and a bit of fun but there is a serious side.

“Since Covid, many charities have seen their incomes drop because people have been unable to fundraise like before.

“As a club we wanted to do what we could to help and this activity will run alongside our usual fundraising events.”

Frances Cornelius, chairman of Variety Wessex said: “The BC Club are fantastic and have been supporting us for more than five years.

“We have been able to do so much because of them and that’s been important this last year with Covid.

“We support not only disabled children, but disadvantaged children and young carers. Through this last year we’ve been able to put on entertainment over Zoom and it’s made a real difference to many lives.

“All of us are volunteers and I don’t know what we’d do without the BC Club, we are so grateful and so are all the children.”

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