AN OKEHAMPTON couple are setting out on the road trip of a lifetime across Europe in September dressed as the characters Buzz and Woody from the Toy Story films.

Lisa and Nelson Voaden will drive to Venice and beyond in a 2003 VW Golf which has been lovingly resurrected as RC, Buzz and Woody’s escape car.

The couple carried out the transformation of the MOT write-off on a budget of just £500 with help from friends and long-time customers.

They are heading off on the trip after recently selling their garage business NV Motors on Mill Road, which they have run for the past 17 years.

Lisa said: ‘Over this time we have amassed lots of customers, many of whom have become friends. We will be gradually phasing ourselves out over the next few months ensuring a smooth transition and leaving NV Motors in the capable hands of the new owner Tim.

‘As a thank-you we wanted to do something to give a bit back to the local community and choosing a banger rally to raise funds for Devon Air Ambulance seemed a fitting way to do it.’

She added: ‘Our challenge was to create the best vehicle we could to get us around Europe for a maximum budget of £500. We have achieved this thanks to a lot of help and support from many, including our customers who provided the poorly MOT write-off VW Golf, the staff at NV Motors who nursed it back to health, Taff who created the shiny new green and blue coat, Metamark who supplied the vinyl stickers and, of course, Mark from Pid Signz who did such an amazing job of bringing our Toy Story banger RC to life.’

Lisa and Nelson will be setting out from Okehampton on September 6, the first part of their journey to Venice being in an organised rally.

‘The first part of our trip to Venice is an organised event with Motoscape which will involve various challenges along the way,’ said Lisa.

‘After Venice, as long as our car is still going strong, we will be carrying on our road trip across Italy calling in at Pisa and Cinque Terre then onto Monaco and the French Riviera.

‘After this the plan is along the coast to Barcelona then homeward bound through Spain and France. The total trip will take approximately two to three weeks.’

They hope to raise £1,000 for the Devon Air Ambulance in sponsorship.

A number of local businesses are sponsoring them and have their logos on the car.

To sponsor Lisa and Nelson visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nelsonandlisatoveniceandbeyond or call in at NV Motors.