A CLEETHORPES man is appealing for sponsorship as he plans to drive across 18 countries – in an old banger.

Mike Gibbs, 29, is set to take part in The Mongol Rally in July next year, from London to UlaanBaatar, the capital of Mongolia.

Mike, who works for Kier Construction, near Retford, will take on the challenge with colleague Joe Titley.

The adventurous pair aim to raise more than £1,000, which will be donated to various charities, including The Mercy Corps, which provides humanitarian community support and relief to poor countries in Africa, and the Christina Noble Children's Foundation, which serves underprivileged children.

Mike said some of the money will also go to the Aplastic Anemia Trust. A close family friend, Steve Thomas, died in 2003 from the rare and serious blood disorder, in which bone marrow stops making enough new blood cells.

He said: "I've been trying to get a place in the rally for years but they always go really quickly. I was pleased to get in this time."

Read more in today's Grimsby Telegraph and click on the link on this page to sponsor the pair.