A Ledbury man is honouring the memory of a friend and fellow motoring fanatic by repeating the European adventure they shared nearly half a century ago.

Barry Ashton will even be doing the trip in the same Triumph car after his late friend, Eric Hinds, bequeathed the now classic vehicle to him.

In 1954, Mr Ashton was one of 14 young people who formed a Motor Club near Coventry and decided to go on a grand continental tour, in vehicles including a pre-war Raleigh 9 Monaco, which had its roof sawn off to turn it into a convertible.

Mr Hinds, who was among the group, left his beloved 1955 TR2 to the safe keeping of his friends, Mr Ashton and Roy Brown, when he died two years ago.

This month, setting out from Colwall, Mr Ashton and Mr Brown will use the car to retrace the route they took when Mr Ashton was just 17.

He said: "We'll be remembering the good times we all had together, in the way of a tribute to Eric.

"He was a lifelong friend, and we think it is something he would have appreciated."

The friends will visit the First World War battlefields in Belgium and the world-famous Bugatti Museum in France, before moving on to skiing country in Austria.

They will then drive into Italy, where Mr Ashton will then link up with his two children, Catherine and James, who both live in Rome.

Italy was the target during the original 1954 tour and the weather was the reason why the decision was taken to remove the roof from the Raleigh 9.

Mr Ashton, who represents Ledbury on Herefordshire Council, said: "It was jolly good fun and one of the reasons we chose Italy was the excellent weather."

The engine of the Triumph TR2 will start to turn on June 17 for a tour that could last a fortnight or even longer.

Mr Ashton added: "It will be the longest time that my wife Barbara and I have been apart since we got married in 1970!"