Vintage Land Rover and caravan on road trip

Derek Hernaman is standing in front of his Land Rover which is hitched to his caravan. The vehicles are parked in a layby with puddles of rainwater. The sea is behind him and there are are mountains in the far distance. It is cloudy but patches of blue sky can be seen.Image source, James Locke
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Derek Hernaman is driving George the Land Rover and Mildred the caravan around the coast of England

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A 69-year-old Land Rover called George is being driven around England while it tows a 79-year-old caravan called Mildred in a bid to raise money for charity.

Derek Hernaman, left Lynmouth in Devon, on his 71st birthday on 8 March, to start his 3,200 mile-long (5,150 km) journey.

The agricultural engineer is fundraising for Bowel Cancer UK after his 52-year-old sister and a 43-year-old friend died from the disease. He is also raising funds for the Alzheimer's Society.

Mr Hernaman said after he had travelled around England, mostly on roads close to the coast, he hoped to end the journey in Lynmouth on either the 22 or 23 April.

The Land Rover is parked in a campsite with the caravan attached behind it. The Land Rover's bonnet is propped up and there are boxes of tools in the foreground.Image source, Derek Hernaman
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Mr Hernaman said the main problems had been with the Land Rover's ignition

On Tuesday, Mr Hernaman told BBC Radio Devon he had driven more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) and had encountered some difficulties with his Series 1 Land Rover.

He said: "George has had a few issues in the last few days...

"It's nothing but to be expected at that age of Land Rover."

He said the main problem so far had been with the vehicle's ignition although there had also been some brake problems.

"Thanks to FaceTime and my very good friends Nigel Webber and Will Webster we seem to have been able to sort things out," he added.

The Land Rover and caravan are parked in a bay on a street in a town. The Land Rover has Union Jack bunting on it as well as numerous stickers and a rope tied around its front bumper. It is parked outside a shop called The Kintyre Larder.Image source, Derek Hernaman
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Mr Hernaman said there were "so many kind people" that had donated to his chosen causes

Mildred, the caravan he is towing, measures 6ft (1.8m) square and holds a bed, a cooker and storage space for food and clothing.

He said: "I'm basically towing a bed.

"The door to the opening of the caravan is over the front hitch which is quite rare.

"It's a Safari Minor, they are very, very rare - there could be just two others in the country."

Mr Hernaman, originally from Croyde and now living in Exmoor, said "a lot of very kind people" had donated money along his journey.

"There are so many kind people out there," he added.

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