John Bowers and Roy Springate, calling themselves Team Anglia, navigated the 43-year-old Ford Anglia on its 1,888 mile journey to raise approximately £12,000 for BEN, the automotive industry charity.

BEN offers financial, emotional and practical help and support to more than 15,000 men, women and children connected with the automotive sector in the UK.

Ford covered the costs for Team Anglia to start the event, the first ever BEN Trafalgar Square to Red Square Rally.

Around 20 participants, in 11 vehicles, set off from central London on 14th July and crossed the channel over to the Hook of Holland, through Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and finally into Russia to the finishing line of Red Square in Moscow on 21st July.

John and Roy, from Ilford and Stondon Massey in Essex, have both worked in the motor industry for most of their lives.

They were accompanied throughout their journey by an AA Mini Van with on–board mechanic, who was given his fair share of work by Team Anglia.

John said: "Our exhaust system came apart a few times and we suffered a major electrical failure of the windscreen wiper motor and, on occasions, the only way we could keep the engine temperature below 110 degrees was to put the heater on full and drive with the windows open."

"Despite all of these little problems, we still managed to keep up with and often outrun the rest of the pack."

While their car was transported back to the UK, Team Anglia flew back from Moscow.

Roy, whose family have all worked for Ford, including his grandfather who worked on the Ford Anglia production line, said: "The Anglia is still a delightful car that was economical to run, big enough to hold all our luggage and spares and yet small enough to get between the lorries."

"I own four in total, including one which belonged to my grandfather and the reason we chose the Anglia is because it is immense fun to drive."