Chitty Chitty's bang up job for cancer awareness

Tim Preece, one of a team who built the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang replica, was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago

A replica of a beloved movie car has gone on display in Shropshire as part of a campaign to encourage men to get checked for prostate cancer.

Visitors to Ludlow said the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang replica, built by a team of nine, was "beautiful" and "amazing".

After its stop in the county, the vehicle is to embark on a journey to Switzerland, via Germany, that takes in filming locations from the 1968 film, although the 1,000-mile (1,609km) route will not be completed by flying - a feat only achieved through movie magic.

Tim Preece, whose cancer diagnosis inspired the challenge, said: "If you're going to build a car to get a reaction then Chitty is the car to build."

The replica, which was parked outside the castle on Sunday, was built by a team from donated parts

Mr Preece, 60, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease four years ago and has since undergone surgery and radiotherapy.

He said his cancer would not have been detected without a routine screening test.

"It's so important that men get an PSA annual test because if it wasn't for that then I wouldn't be here," he added.

His team, who call themselves the Mad Men, transformed a 1929 Humber chassis into Chitty using donated parts.

They intend to transport it partly on a trailer through the Alps, also taking in Cobstone Windmill in Buckinghamshire, home in the film to Dick Van Dyke's character Caractacus Potts.

It will subsequently tour motoring venues across the UK.

The 1968 musical starred Van Dyke as Caractacus Potts and Sally Ann Howes as Truly Scrumptious

The "Mad Men" team have previously transformed other vehicles into iconic cars from the world of film to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

Mr Preece said Chitty had received "a fantastic reaction" in Ludlow, where it was parked outside the castle between 10:30 and 13:30 BST.

He encouraged people to follow the progress of their journey on social media.

"If you wanted to donate something towards Prostate Cancer UK it'd be greatly appreciated," he added.