A HAMPSHIRE father and daughter team, who recently drove a 1955 Land Rover more than 1,200 miles to raise money for a cancer charity, enjoyed a ‘parade lap’ "of a lifetime".

Ben Metcalfe and his seven-year-old daughter, Hope, took two weeks to complete their John O'Groats to Lands End challenge in Ben’s world-weary 64-year-old pickup, so far raising over £1,000 for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, a national charity that supports young people aged 8-24 to rebuild their confidence after cancer.

To celebrate their Hampshire homecoming, Ben, Hope and 'Groats Landy' were invited to take part in the iconic CarFest Carnival Parade, driving two families supported by the Trust in the parade around the racetrack at CarFest’s Laverstoke Park Farm site.

Ben, who lives near Winchester and is the CEO of Swanwick Marina-based Landau UK, said his journey it has been a "memorable month".

He added: “What a simply amazing weekend, made so special not by the music but by the inspirational, positive and amazing people that are all things Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

“Hope and I had the absolute pleasure to drive the families in our old Land Rover and we just loved every minute.

"From when Chris Evans flagged us over so he could high five everyone in the pickup to the surprise moment where Hope got to go on stage with her new friends and sing to 30,000 people.

“I still can’t believe all that happened; what a great experience and memories for all.

"If one word could sum the weekend up, it would be ‘inspirational’, but that doesn’t even start to do it justice.”

The Trust was one of five children’s charities, personally chosen by Chris Evans, to be supported by CarFest this year.

Ben wanted to raise money to support young people in recovery after attending a breakfast event hosted by the Trust at the BT Tower earlier this year.

His colleague, Gemma Foster, is also a beneficiary of the Trust, having first sailed in recovery from Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2005.

She has returned to sail and volunteered on many trips since.