Three RAF servicemen spluttered away from their Oxfordshire base in an ageing three-wheeled car at dawn yesterday morning... destination Malta.

Aircraft technicians Mark McNeil, 31, James Booth, 29 and Adam Hargreaves, 29, are driving their Del Boy-style car nearly 4,200 miles to Malta and back in just 13 days.

They hope their epic journey will raise at least £7,000 (€8,808) for Everyman, a charity support-ing men with testicular and prostate cancer.

Sgt McNeil lost his mother Sarah to breast cancer last year and he said all the team had been affected by cancer in some way.

“She battled the disease for five years and, over that time, I saw how the treatment she received improved.

“In the UK, there is a lot of support for Cancer Research so we thought we would raise money for a lesser-known charity,” he said.

The three friends left RAF Brize Norton early yesterday in the 22-year-old Robin Reliant, a type of car made infamous by Del Boy Trotter in the classic UK sitcom Only Fools and Horses.

Taking it in turns to drive, they will travel through France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy before arriving in Malta on a Virtu ferry from Sicily at 11pm on Tuesday, if all goes to plan.

After a full day exploring Malta, they will start their return journey on Thursday and aim to be back at base on September 19.

The trusty vehicle was bought two years ago for a different charity challenge and they are confident it can last the distance. “We’re taking lots of tools and parts with us and we’re all qualified engineers,” Sgt McNeil pointed out.

Although planning on being self-reliant, the intrepid trio also have European breakdown cover in case the old Robin proves beyond their help.

Readers may follow their progress and donate to the cause at www.everymanformalta.co.uk.