Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses would have called them plonkers, but that hasn’t stopped two friends from organising a driving challenge in a three wheel van dressed as the characters from the sitcom.

Dave Apel from Dagenham and his friend Neil York from Romford are set to take part in the Benidorm or Bust Banger Rally from Thursday March 15 to Tuesday March 20 for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and the Sam Fund in a replica of the trotter’s van in the BBC comedy.

Dave said: “Del Boy would have probably called us plonkers, but the I think it is a really good way of raising money for two charities that help children.

“We both love Only Fools and Horses and we have been avid fans for years.”

The challenge, will see Dave, 35 and Neil, 46 starting their journey from the Pinewood Pub in Collier Row, before going on to Dover and then to Benidorm.

The pair are hoping to clock up 3,000 miles in just five days, while dressed as their favourite characters from the comedy.

Dave said: “We will be leaving as Batman and Robin from our favourite episode of the show called Heroes and Villains, then we will be dressing as Del Boy and Boyce, and we will even be dressed as Uncle Albert.

“It will definately be lots of fun and we are hoping to raise a few heads as well.”

The friends came up with the idea of doing the challenge as a tribute to their favourite sitcom while watcing an episode over Christmas.

After searching the web, the pair managed to buy a three wheel Reliant van similar to the one used by Trotters Independant Traders from another fan in Devon.

They also managed to get their costumes for the characters from charity shops and e bay.

Dave said: “We have spent about �1,000 on the van, and it broke down ten times on the way back from Devon, but we didn’t let that put us off, it just made us realise that we had to do a lot of work on it.

“It is our favourite sitcom and it always puts a smile your face.”

The money raised from the challenge will go to the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and TheSamFund for young survivors of cancer.

To donate call Dave on 07970 096635