Three brothers take tiny bus on epic journey

Three brothers from Cheshire are travelling from Land's End to John O' Groats in a tiny bus built in the 1940s for seaside children's rides.

James, Andrew and Will Emerton are taking on the challenge to raise money for three charities while celebrating the centenary of their family's roofing firm.

They will take it in turns to drive the miniature petrol-powered bus, which has a top speed of about 12 miles per hour, and expect it to take eight days to complete the journey.

Setting off on Good Friday, the brothers plan to pause in their home town of Nantwich on Easter Sunday, during the annual jazz and blues festival.

They are raising money for the MPS Society, The Children's Society and Hope House Children's Hospice.

Their family has owned the vehicle, which is road legal, for about 20 years, Will said.

"It's got real charisma, it's a real head-turner when you're driving down the high street," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

It was originally built to run up and down a promenade on the sea front, to give short rides to children in the 1950s and 1960s.

The bus is about 1m (3ft) tall and 2.5m (8ft) long.

It was Will's "crazy" idea to drive it the full length of the country, Andrew said.

"We were thinking of what we could do for charity, to raise some money, and Will came up with the idea and we all liked it."

People have been waving and taking photos of them while they have been out and about around Nantwich on test runs.

So far they raised about £11,000 and they hope to increase that during their journey.

"There's been a lot of work involved," James said.

He said they had given the bus a new chassis, new wheels and new axels to ensure it was ready for the journey.

They will take it in turn to drive the bus, with a support vehicle accompanying them.

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