A GROUP of pensioners left Southampton this morning at the start of a five-month round-the-world drive for charity.

Rerired businessman Les Carvall and his fellow fundraisers hope their 28,000-mile journey will net thousands of pounds for Save the Children and other good causes, including Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington.

They have launched a charity with a title that reflects both their age and their spirit of adventure - Heaven Can Wait I'm Busy.

Their journey, dubbed The Ultimate Challenge, began at the Novotel in West Quay Road, Southampton, where a large group of wellwishers gathered to wish them good luck.

After a long round of farewell hugs and kisses Les, 72, of Everton, near Lymington, and some of his fellow drivers climbed into the two Suzuki Jimnys in which they will spend the next five months travelling through Europe, Russia, the Far East and North America.

They were sent on their way by BBC Radio Solent presenter Julian Clegg, who launched the event by waving the Union Flag.

During their marathon trip through Europe, Russian, Asia and North America their two Suzuki Jimnys will cover a total of 28,000 miles, including 10,000 miles by boat.

Highlights of the 136-day trip will include a visit to Poland and a meeting with former Solidarity leader Lech Walesa.

Four years ago Les was anything but busy after selling the family business.

He said: “I spent two years doing what retired people do and was getting rather irritable. There’s only so much gardening you can do and I didn’t want to join the local bowling club.”

Les was on holiday in Greece when he saw a convoy of cars taking part in the Paris to Peking rally.

“One evening I started looking at maps and wondered if it would be possible to drive around the world,” he said.

“After going out to dinner and noticing a large map on the wall I was hooked – I couldn’t think of anything else.”

Les vowed to turn the trip into a fundraising expedition and was soon joined by others with the same ambition.

Accompanying him on the first stage of the journey will be Charles Scott, 75, Roland Spencer, 70, and Keith Twyford, 70. They will ultimately make way for Alan Butler, 76, Graham Higgins, 70, Glyn Maher, 74, and Roger Winkworth, 70.

They are all from the Lymington area apart from Roger, who lives in Southampton.