A group of school friends will travel across 17 countries in a 1998 Nissan Micra in a bid to raise £5,000 for charity.

Former King’s College School, Wimbledon, pupils Matt Ingram, Ed Compson, Guy Khosla and Jonti Davies will drive thousands of miles to Mongolia as part of the Mongol Rally with hundreds of others from all over the country.

They have already raised £4,300 for EducAid Sierra Leone, a charity running a network of free schools which 22-year-old Mr Compson worked with in his gap year.

Mr Ingram, 22, said: "It is a bit daunting, these places are a bit dangerous but it should be really exciting, a real adventure.

"It is a great opportunity to get off the tourist trail."

Mr Ingram said it had been a big task to organise the trip, including visas, purchasing the car and organising an itinerary.

They will set off on Sunday, July 20, crossing Europe before going to Uzbekistan, Russia and into Mongolia in about two months time.

The group, all from Wimbledon and Southfields, met at school in Wimbledon and have since gone on to study at different universities.

To sponsor the group, visit the website.