Morris Minor's major trek

Morris Minor's major trek

The car has about 70,000 miles on the clock

A woman is planning to make a 12,000-mile drive to Australia - in a £500 Morris Minor.

Joy Rainey, from Evesham, Worcestershire will compete in the race with co-driver Trevor Hulks after rebuilding the 33-year-old car.

The London to Sydney rally has been running since 1968 and is expected to attract about 100 classic cars.

The route is in three legs - Europe, India and Australia, with each separated by an airlift.

Ms Rainey, a former ladies' champion at the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb, is confident the ageing car will go the distance. She said: "Of course she'll make it.

Joy Rainey is a former champion at Shelsley Walsh

"And it'll be the first time a Morris Minor's been driven from London to Sydney."

Mr Hulks said the car should be easy to repair if anything goes wrong.

"We chose the Morris Minor because it is a simple car.

"It's easy to get the parts for a thorough rebuild.

"We would hope we can fix anything that goes wrong along the route."

The Morris Minor will be specially-adapted during an eight-month rebuild and will have a reconditioned engine fitted.

"When it's finished it should be in much better condition than when it rolled off the production line in 1970," said Ms Rainey.

The pair will set off on their journey in June next year.