Did you know that the Bridport News was a popular read in Turin?

Thanks to Guy Livingston and David Brugge, that's where one of our recent editions ended up.

The pair were amongst a group fundraising for Cancer Research UK, which had been organised by Richard Foot.

The group did a re-run of the 1969 film 'The Italian Job', but stopped short of blowing the back doors off a van and dumping minis over a cliff.

Eight self-funded Mini Coopers were driven from Sherborne Castle with permission from Edward Digby and set off to Turin.

The concept was thought of a year ago by Richard Foot, after he lost a good friend to cancer.

The drivers for the event were Ali Goodland, Chris Cox, Chris White, David Brugge, Guy Livingston, Paul Studley, Peter Foot and Richard Foot.

They were joined by co-drivers Michael Head, Lorraine Truswell, Greg Corfield, Hugh Stephen Thomas, Nicky Mann, Nick Fay, Antony Mullins and Simon Hole.

The aim of the challenge was to 'bring home the gold', in other words, to raise as much for Cancer Research UK as possible.

Guy Livingston, one of the drivers and who sent us the photographs, said: "We jumped at the idea (of taking part), and we were quickly followed by five other crews.

"During this time, my co-driver Tom Grace, from Shipton Gorge, was diagnosed with cancer, and sadly died before he was able to do the event.

"My co-driver was then taken over by Nicky Mann from Maiden Newton."

The groups fundraising included an event at Waitrose, Bridport, which made £516, and events in Esher, Salisbury, Sherborne, Weybridge and Bridport, which made nearly £2,500.

As in the film, the eight Minis were parked on the Lingotto roof in Turin, where the group displayed the 50 gold bars they took with them for all to see.

Through the fundraising efforts and donations to the cause on a JustGiving page, more than £16,100 has been raised for Cancer Research UK, with a new target of £20,000 set.

Jenny Makin, spokesman for Cancer Research UK in Dorset, said: "We can't say thank you enough to Richard and his friends for their incredible fundraising mission that has raised such a fantastic sum of money.

"As a charity, we receive no government funding and rely on the generosity of the public.

"The money will go directly to funding our life saving research and help us on our mission to see three in four people survive cancer by 2034."

Donations are still being accepted through the JustGiving page.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-hawkins2017