Charity rally

Two men from Ashford joined a 1,500-mile road trip from London to Bucharest, helping raise more than £40,000 for deafblind charity Sense International.

John Blowers, 51, and Simon Pilkington, 57, joined 10 other drivers from across the country in a charity car rally through France, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Hungary in their quest to deliver funds, specialist sensory toys and games to help deafblind children in Romania.

The trio, who were supporting friend and Sense International Trustee, Dean Lumer from Essex, spent five days travelling an average of 300 miles per day and managed to double their fundraising target.

Mr Blowers said: “Knowing the money we were raising would help to raise awareness and funds for children, who may deal with isolation and exclusion, to learn to communicate and receive an education was the ultimate driving force.”