A GROUP of residents living near a popular village pub are setting off on the world’s longest valley run to raise money for charity.

The group of 18 from near the Penybont Inn, Penybont Llanerch Emrys, will be travelling more than 1,500 miles to Gibraltar in the hope of raising £10,000 for the Welsh Air Ambulance Service.

To add more fun to the journey, each participating pair has been tasked with completing the distance in a British car worth up to the value of just £500.

They then hope to be able to sell their cars after arriving in Gibraltar before flying home.

Sara Maccall, the landlady at Penybont Inn, near Oswestry, said she is hopeful the fundraiser will reach its £10,000 target.

“My husband and I decided a few years ago that we were going to do a banger rally,” she said.

“But we decided to do that as part of a grand tour from the pub, which we then decided to make the longest valley run in the world.

“We’re all very keen on raising funds for the Wales Air Ambulance – a lot of the people taking part and living in the area are farmers, they realise how important the service is.

“They will be going through France and down through Spain before arriving there, hopefully on Saturday.

“They have two people to a car, just in case a few cars break down, so they can jump in with others.

“There has been £6,500 raised on our Facebook page, and I think there’s £1,500 in cash so far, with some people still yet to donate who said they would so we should get there.”

Stuart Jones, of MD of Ridgway Rentals, is taking part in the challenge.

He said: “We are overwhelmed with the support we have already received.

“Local business and people have been so generous; we are hoping to hit our £10,000 target by the time we get to Gibraltar.”