IT was more Scrapheap Challenge than Top Gear when Steve Berry got behind the wheel of his latest motor!

But while others may scoff at the television presenter's latest set of wheels, Steve has put his Lada four-wheel drive to worthy use by taking part in a Plymouth to Dakar charity challenge.

Steve (39), of Manchester Road, Bury, found the vehicle abandoned in a local scrapyard and spent just £100 to make it roadworthy.

He has just returned from the west coast of Africa where, along with 40 other old banger drivers, he delivered vehicles to charities in Senegal and The Gambia. He drove the 3,000 miles in the 4x4, with Paul Scanlon, a good friend and (luckily) a good mechanic.

The challenge, which took three weeks, was to drive the route from Plymouth to Dakar on a limited budget.

And on arrival in Banjul in The Gambia, the vehicles which managed the journey and equipment were auctioned off, raising £46,168 for Gambian charities.

Steve said: "Even though our car was abandoned in Ramsbottom and had been driven almost 3,000 miles during the challenge, the people living there will use every vehicle and car part that we give them."

Steve and Paul's Lada will now be used by an African community as an ambulance.

He said: "They won't be bothered about a bit of rust or a scratch. It's a different way of life over there altogether. No matter how old the cars are, they will be used for years. They are not concerned with having the latest models.

"There's a big problem with cars being abandoned in this country. Giving them to a good cause like this gives them a second life."

Much of the driving during the challenge was through desert but the Lada coped well with the tough terrain.

Steve said: "There were parts of the journey when there were just no roads: between major cities as well. But the Lada was tough and very durable."

Steve's next job as a motor-journalist is with Fiat in Sardinia.

He said: "We had a fantastic experience but nothing like what I would encounter in my everyday job.

"During my next job I'll be staying in a five star hotel, with dinner and other luxuries. The challenge was completely the opposite. We even had to sleep in the car on a number of occasions."