Pals Mal Ellison and Max Osborne had to use buses, trains, ferries and hitchhiking rides to get across Europe after thieves stole the car they were using for a charity drive.

The 30-year-olds set off in Mal's battered 1976 Mini and were intending to drive 2,500 miles to the Greek island of Kos to raise money for Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope.

But the pair from Cross Hills were only two days into their trip when Mal's pride and joy was stolen in Belgium.

Mal, who runs Above and Beyond travel agents in Cross Hills, said they ended up in Antwerp after taking a wrong turn, and decided to stay overnight in a youth hostel.

They parked the car nearby, but when they got up in the morning the Mini was gone. Mal said: "I thought Max was joking and must have moved it but he hadn't."

The pair went to the police but were told there was little chance of getting the car back.

The travel agent, who had owned the car for ten years and was intending to leave it with a friend in Kos, said he was "gutted".

He said: "Nobody had stolen it to drive it, they have just stolen it to torch it or something."

Stranded nearer the United Kingdom than Kos, the pair had to decide whether to catch a ferry home or continue with the challenge.

But Mal said returning home was not an option as he did not want to compromise any sponsorship money and the friends agreed to make their own way across Europe.

Their journey - which started at the Bay Horse pub in Sutton-in-Craven - comprised train and bus rides, thumbing lifts and hair-raising walks along bypasses in France, Switzerland, Italy and Greece.

They also slept on deck during a 20-hour ferry crossing between Ancona, Italy and Patras in Greece, and a 16-hour sail between Athens and Kos.

A bedraggled, unwashed and practically penniless Mal and Max eventually arrived at the Greek island resort two days later than they would have done in the car.

By this point Mal said he was relieved, still miserable about losing the car and desperate to sleep in a proper bed.

The duo, who kept a video diary of their adventure, spent two nights in Kos before flying home.

The escapade has raised more than £1,000 for Manorlands - some of which was donated via Mal's website - and the travel agent raised £150 by having his long blonde hair cut off.

Matthew Halliday, fundraiser for Manorlands, said: "Everyone at Manorlands Hospice was really excited about Mal's unique trip and when we found out what had happened we were devastated.

"But when we realised, in true adventurer style, that Mal and Max were continuing on their trip we were very pleased.

"It's great that they still managed to raise so much money."

People can still sponsor Mal by visiting www.justgiving.com/manor landsminiadventure.

e-mail: jenny.speak@skipton.newsquest.co.uk