The fourth - and final - Twin Town Challenge charity car rally will leave Blenheim Palace for Le Touquet on Friday morning.

Some 120 cars costing less than £500 will set off for Witney’s twin town for a weekend of points-based challenges with the aim of raising £1.25million by their return on Bank Holiday Monday.

The theme for the Covid-delayed Twin Town 2020+2 is Battle of the Bands and teams are already busy decorating their cars and getting their fancy dress ready.

Entrants will include a team dressed as Abba in a glitterball car, the Village People and the Beatles.

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In past events, teams have driven London taxis and stretch limos as well as more ordinary vehicles disguised as Jurassic Park, Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine, Power Rangers and Pirates of the Caribbean.

The RAF Falcons parachute display team, MPs and mayors will be seeing them off.

The challenge has already raised £1million for Charlbury-based SpecialEffect - a gaming charity that supports disabled people - even before the event takes place.

The cars will compete for points in challenges in and around Le Touquet in northern France before enjoying a street party with a live band in the centre of town when the Twin Towners are joined by the residents of Le Touquet.

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Organiser Brendon Cross, MD of Witney based STL Communications and Hexagon Business Centres and a SpecialEffect Vice President, said: "We are very lucky that so many businesses from the games industry and local Oxfordshire businesses give so generously to sponsor this event.

"Their support enables us to cover the costs of the Eurotunnel crossings, the hire of the venues and to feed all the participants during the weekend.”

The organising team are supported by a team of volunteers, mechanics, a film crew and a bus of shame for any team who breaks down.

Based in Charlbury, SpecialEffect puts the fun and inclusion back into the lives of those with physical disabilities using technology ranging from modified joy-pads to eye-control.

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Funds from the Twin Town events have helped establish a games room for young people to visit, to buy new vehicles and to take on more specialist staff to meet the rapidly growing demand for their support and services.

Dr Mick Donegan, founder and CEO, said: “To think that the organisers have already raised over £1m for us is unbelievable and we know this will be exceeded during the event itself.

"We cannot thank the Twin Town community enough for their passion and generosity. We are entirely dependent on donations to carry on our work, so events like this are our lifeblood.”

The final fundraising total will be announced after the post event ball in July.