VETERAN car enthusiasts are getting a helping hand from the Territorial Army to keep in touch on the road after modern technology let them down.

The Veteran Car Club of Great Britain's North West section discovered it had no way of raising the alarm if there was a breakdown during its rally through East Lancashire.

Members found the hilly landscape kept cutting out the signals of their mobile phones so they decided to ask a Blackburn-based TA unit to help with the communication breakdown.

Soldiers from the Canterbury Street-based 93 Signals Squadron will be manning radios along the route and following the cars during the Bank Holiday weekend rally.

Course clerk John Landless said: ''We decided to link up with the Signals when we found the area was not too good for mobile phones.

''They will be on hand to help let the back-up know about problems, such as punctures.''

Among the vehicles will be a rare 1915 Rolls Royce Light 20, believed to be one of only two still in existence in the world. Most of the cars are between 80 and 90-years-old.

Around 40 cars will leave the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, for a return trip to Glasson Dock on August 23 and then travel to Ribble Head on August 24.

Signals 2nd Lieutenant Julie Lodge said: ''We will be using radios and following the cars to provide the communication if there is a breakdown.

''Between 20 and 30 people will be involved and it will be a good training exercise.''

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