WATCH: Twin Town Challenge charity car rally leaves Blenheim Palace for Le Touquet

Some 120 cars costing less than £500 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 entrants were dressed as Abba in a glitterball car, the Village People, the Beatles, the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, Elvis and Run DMC.

Unfortunately the RAF Falcons parachute display team were unable to jump because of cloud, despite having two attempts.

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

Witney MP Robert Courts and Mayor of Witney Cllr Joy Aitman plus Lord Mayor of Oxford Mark Lygo and other councillors were at the event to wave them off.

Andrew Hammond, MD of Oxford Products, who will have taken part in all four Twin Town Challenges, said: "Each Twin Town Challenge has been an utterly brilliant trip, great fun and we come away with lots of happy memories and new friends but to know that we have also helped to raise so much for this amazing charity is the icing on the cake."

Another Twin Towner, Nick Jones of Partners&, said: "Twin Town is a truly wonderful experience. I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend raising money for a wonderful charity than with the Twin Town community!"

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.

The event is organised by Brendon Cross, MD of Witney-based STL Communications and Hexagon Business Centres and a SpecialEffect vice-president.

He said: “We will once again turn heads in Le Touquet!”

We will follow their progress over the weekend.