A group of charity “firefighters” arrived back home after circumnavigating the globe in a fire engine.

The 25-strong team have worked in shifts to clock up around 30,000 miles travelling around the world in the vehicle.

The Follow That Fire Engine team crossed the finishing line in Greenwich, London, on Sunday afternoon, at the very same spot from where they departed last July.

They are now in line to become record breakers and in the coming days are expected to be awarded the Guinness World Record title Longest Journey By Fire Engine. The global mission, covering 28 countries, was led by expedition leader Steve Moore, 33, from Wimbledon, London.

Follow That Fire Engine is dedicated to the memory of Steve’s father, firefighter Garth Moore, who died of lung cancer aged 63.

Mr Moore said: “We wanted to do something that paid tribute to my father, and the charities that related to his life, and passing.

“We’ve covered gruelling terrain in Mongolia, Russia and Kazakhstan, faced the rainy season in Thailand and Laos, the height of summer in Australia and snow in the US.”

The round-the-world challenge has been raising money for three charities – The Fire Fighters Charity, Macmillan Cancer Support and the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. One hundred per cent of all donations will go directly to the charities supported as the crew self-funded the entire trip.

Guinness World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday said: “This is an extraordinary world record attempt which shows ultimate dedication and drive.”