'Batman dad' to race across Europe for cancer charity

Mark Wells with his late father's old Seat Cordoba, which he will be racing to Prague in a charity rally

The converted Seat even comes with its own, all-essential, 'bat-phone' for crime-fighting emergencies

Mark Wells will be travelling with three friends, one dressed as Robin and two others as villains

The roof siren of the 'batmobile' was provided by Erin Wells, Mr Wells' 10-year-old daughter

The ejector seat in Mark Wells' car is not thought to be operational

The exterior of the Seat has been painted and stickered with a Batman-related theme

A man has turned his late father's old car into a "Batmobile" which he plans to race across Europe for charity.

Mark Wells, of Hutton in Essex, will be dressed as Batman and accompanied by three friends for the 1,500 mile (2,414km) journey.

The 1995-registered Seat Cordoba belonged to Mr Wells' father Leslie, who died of cancer 12 years ago.

"I think my Dad always knew I was a little bit crazy," said Mr Wells, who is fundraising for Cancer Research UK.

"I've had a few odd looks as I've been driving around," he said. "I took my wife to the station and my daughter to school, much to their disgust."

As a child, Mr Wells was an avid reader of comics and used to be known as "Batman Wells" because he would wear his coat as a cloak with just one button fastened around the neck.

The team will be taking part in the Crumball Rally as the "Gotham Geezers".

Joined by 60 other cars, they will drive from the UK, via France through Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Germany to Prague in the Czech Republic.

They hope to arrive in Prague in their diesel-engine "Batmobile" (which has 90,000 miles on the clock) on Sunday.

The car will then be taken to a local breakers yard where it will be scrapped.

"I would like to think my Dad will be looking down and thinking 'That was a good way of giving it a send off'."