A merry band of fundraisers trun-dling along at little more than a snail's pace are passing through Somerset aboard a souped-up milk float this week in an attempt to raise thousands of pounds for a children's charity.

The trio from the Cotswolds could set a world record for the longest tour of Britain as they pilot the whirring vehicle around the country's coastline at a top speed of just eight miles an hour.

Pals George Birtwell, 28, Jack Willow, 29, and 18-year-old Jem Tyler left their Chipping Norton home in October and are set to return next September after clocking up thousands of miles and almost as many tales of goodwill.

Surviving on tinned supplies and the milk of human kindness, the group hope to raise cash for charity Bottletop and embark on an adventure they will remember forever as they clock up between seven and 15 miles a day.

Villagers in Wedmore were puzzled when the brightly painted 'Away with the Dairies' float pulled into the local pub's car park on Saturday in the hope of finding somewhere to charge the struggling vehicle's battery before leaving for Highbridge on Sunday.

Mr Birtwell said: "We went into the New Inn to ask for some help and they were so great, we ended up staying there and playing some songs for everyone in the bar for about two hours.

"We have been so amazed by the kindness of every person we've met since we left in October.

"We really do have the most benevolent people in this country.

"The milk float battery lasts for 10 miles and then has to be charged for five hours so we've been knocking on doors wherever we've run out of power and when we tell people what we're doing, they have all been happy to help."

Mr Birtwell and Mr Willow have been friends for 15 years and it was while slowly sinking in a leaky canoe on an adventure course that the pair decided to take the plunge and spend a year on a different kind of challenge.

We were sat there on this canoe that was sinking and we realised it was the happiest we'd ever been because we were on an adventure," Mr Birtwell said.

"We knew about the charity Bottletop and thought travelling the country on a milk float would fit in well with that so here we are."

The trio scoured the country for a float and finally found the 1980s vehicle in Bedford – it was the only milk float for sale in the entire UK.

And for just £1,300 it was a bargain and the group set about installing a gas stove, heater, futon and hammock into what was to become their home for the next 12 months.

They made sure they also had room for a guitar and keyboard which has enabled them to play impromptu gigs for onlookers as they work their way around the country.

Mr Birtwell, a building restorer, said: "When someone helps us, we like to repay them with a couple of songs which is what we did in Wedmore.

"In the summer, we hope to invite other bands to hold little concerts on the roof."

And despite the bitter winter weather and recent torrential rain, the gang said they are having the time of their lives: "It's a bit nippy now but sleeping in the float is fine, in fact it's my favourite part of the day when we all snuggle down and talk about what we've seen," he said.

"Jack's a self-employed painter, I'm self-employed as well so it seemed like a good time to do a year's charity work. Jem's a film student and is filming our trip so he can do something with it when we've finished.

"We're having the most amazing time, I feel like I've seen autumn in England properly for the first time."

Away with the Dairies are appealing for donations and sponsorship in aid of Bottletop charity which funds projects that benefit the health and wellbeing of young people worldwide.

To help them, log on to www.justgiving.com/awaywiththedairies