Yes that really is a Lambikini!

This colourful creation is a banger given a new lease of life which a team of charity fundraisers from the borough hopes will take them on a 1,400-mile adventure across Europe.

Kerry and Harry Howlett and Lydia and Matz Schleinitz are taking part in the Benidorm or Bust banger rally to raise money for Wigan and Leigh Hospice (WLH).

The group has to buy a car for just a few hundred pounds and then drive it on an epic journey from Dover across France and Spain to the finishing line at the popular holiday resort.

After picking up the Citroen Xsara Picasso Team Lambikini got creative with fake wool to come up with the eye-catching final design of a young sheep donning swimwear inspired, ironically, by Kerry’s favourite Italian supercars.

Kerry, 48, said: “I saw a few pictures from previous events and there was a guy who covered his car in red fur and called it a Furrari.

“My favourite car is a Lamborghini and we were at a race track with several on show. I took a picture of the bull on the shield, came home and just suddenly said: ‘What about the idea of a lamb in a bikini?’ We thought it was a good idea and it just went from there.”

Kerry and the team hope the design, which includes touches such as eyelashes, eyes painted on the sun visors and a decorative sunscreen, will win them the prize for the best-dressed car in the rally.

The idea of taking part in Benidorm or Bust came about at a dinner party one evening after Kerry had spotted the event online.

Husband Harry was also aware of the idea as a couple of his fellow competitors in the motor sport hillclimbing had done a similar event called Rome to Rust.

They bought the car in Leigh for £300 in January and then spent three days coating it in fake wool, also getting some mechanical work done on it to give it the best possible chance of getting through the four-day odyssey next month.

Benidorm or Bust starts at Dover, with more than 200 budget vehicles getting on the same ferry to Calais, before the journey takes in Rouen, Bordeaux, the motor racing circuit at Pau, Zaragoza and Valencia.

There is also a serious point to all the fun as Team Lambikini hopes its exploits will raise £1,500 for WLH after the Hindley-based charity looked after Kerry’s dad Gerry Franckel in 2010.

Kerry, originally from Hindley, said: “The hospice gave my dad palliative care. He was admitted for a week in the summer and came home but was readmitted in December the same year for three or four days until he passed away. The staff were great while he was in but afterwards they were so supportive with me too.

“The hospice supported me and my family through the worst time. I wanted to give them something back no matter how small.

“He was the best dad in the world. He would have loved what we’re doing – he might have wanted to come along too!”

Benidorm or Bust takes place between June 6 and June 10. To follow the team’s progress search for Team Lambikini on Facebook and to donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/TeamLambikini