The Paris to Dakar road trip is for the rich thrill-seekers, while the Plymouth to Dakar run is for those adventurers who are perhaps not so well-heeled..

John Campbell, of Tichborne, will lead a team of four people, including a mechanic, through treacherous terrain and go beyond Dakar, in West Africa, to Banjul, where their vehicles will be auctioned to raise money for charity.

Service Point, of New Farm Road, Alresford, are sponsoring the team and have been tweaking their left-hand drive Mitsubishi Pajero before their challenging three-week journey begins on Boxing Day.

The run started in 2003 and this year 130 vehicles will be taking part, travelling 4,000 miles in convoys of five at a time. On arriving at Banjul, capital of The Gambia, all the four-wheel drives will be auctioned to raise money for a number of charities. Last year, £26,875 was raised.

The condition of entry is that all vehicles must be valued under £150 and be handed over to the rally organisers upon completion, when the competitors fly home.

Said John: "I am very fond of Africa and I know it fairly well. I wanted to something that was challenging, but the benefit of this is it is all for a good cause."

* Philippa Wiffen, of Shirrell Heath, will also be taking part, as co-driver to her friend, Steve Page, a former rally driver. The pair, whose team name is "Team Live Like Yer Dying", will travel in a white 1982 Mercedes 280E. Friends have already give them a big farewell bash at the Buck's Head pub, at Meonstoke.