A TEAM of driving instructors from Alton joined forces on Friday to support The Big Learner Relay – a nationwide initiative that has raised £93,000 for the BBC’s Children in Need appeal, with support still motoring in.

Now in its second year, the relay convoy was run over two weeks, expanding this year to take in Alton where, on the final day, drivers from the Winchester leg arrived at Jubilee Fields to hand over the Big Relay roof sign to lead driver Ian Weir of Alton’s Think Driving School.

He was joined on the next leg of the relay by Sam Watson, of the Alton Driving School, and Douglas Edwards, Frances Blatch, Tim Price-Bowen and Stuart Webb of Think Driving School.

The lead car was covered in Pudsey Bear spots to attract sponsorship.

The instructors were actually giving lessons during their leg of the relay, with all the cars driven by learners. In the lead car with Mr Weir was learner driver Emily Fardell, and in the back was event organiser Louise Walsh of Lymington-based Love Driving, who the past two weeks has ridden in the back of every lead car.

Friday’s journey had started in Southampton at 8am and continued from Alton to Farnborough and then on via Basingstoke and Newbury to finish in Swindon.

Some of the Winchester drivers joined the Alton cars on their leg and instructors supported other colleagues all the way to Swindon.

In thanking everyone who sponsored the event, Sam Watson described it as “a wonderful experience” made all the more special because they were raising money for such a great cause.

Donations can still be made via justgiving.com/the-big-learner-relay-15 or by texting Pass65 followed by the donation amount to 70070.