A pair of daredeveil rally drivers are taking to the hills of Wales - more than 25 years since they last got behind the wheel together.

Abingdon driver Martin Abbott and his friend Des Rowland, from Bedfordshire, used to race together while in the RAF in Cyprus.

Tomorrow they will be together again - taking part in the Severn Valley Rally through the Welsh forests in a souped-up Ford Fiesta.

The rally is down to Mr Rowland's daughter Debbie who wanted to get something special for him for his 60th birthday.

Because Mr Rowland had many tales to tell of their rallying in Cyprus, and about the things they got up to, Miss Rowlands decided an extra bit of the treat would be to reunite them.

Mr Abbott, 61, from Medlicott Drive, Abingdon, said: "Des knew he had to have a co-driver and he'd been kidded that it would be some 18 year old know-it-all.

"So when he was due to meet the co-driver, I appeared instead. It was a great surprise to him.

"Since then, we've done nothing but talk about it.

"We're going to do the best we can - but we're not after glory.

"We're going there to enjoy ourselves and relive some of the thrills we had in the 1970s."

And the rallying kit is very different to what they were used to.

Miss Rowlands said: "They used to drive in T-shirts and ordinary trousers and with a bobble-hat in winter if it was cold.

"Now they've both been kitted out in special clothes, helmets and even flame-proof underwear."