Chitty Chitty car in Ian Fleming road trip tribute

Tim Preece was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 55

A group of friends who built a replica Chitty Chitty Bang Bang have driven it over the Alps in tribute to Ian Fleming, who wrote the children’s book, as well as the James Bond novels.

The group from Shropshire, called the Mad Men, raised £4,000 for prostate cancer.

Tim Preece, who started the group with a lifelong friend, said they took the car to Rothenburg, near the Bavarian Alps, where the famous child catcher scene was filmed.

Then they drove the car over the Furka Pass in the Swiss Alps, a backdrop for the James Bond movie Goldfinger, filmed 60 years ago.

'Flew over Alps'

Mr Preece, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 55, said his friends helped him take his mind off it when they took part in the North Coast 500 in an "old banger" - a road trip around the northern coast of Scotland.

After that, they decided to build a replica Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

"I love the film. The kids love the film. My grandkids love the film, and now it’s just one of those iconic films that means such a lot to a lot of people," he said.

"I’ve never known a car put a smile on so many people's faces."

In Rothenburg, the group met child extras in the film who were now in their 60s and 70s. He said one woman sat by a fountain for hours "just looking at the car with a big smile on her face".

Mr Preece said the car "flew over the alps", adding: "We had one little hiccup with the fuel, but it was a minor detail and we fixed that."

He said the aim of the trip was to pay tribute to Fleming, who he described as a "wonderful writer".