AN adventurer’s son has joined in an intrepid trek across Africa to raise funds for charity from his school’s computer.

James Harris and Mark Broadwith are heading across Africa in a 22-year-old Peugeot to raise funds for Help for Heroes.

The duo, from near Bedale, are taking part in the three-week long Plymouth to Dakar Challenge in a bid to raise £5,000 for the charity.

Mr Harris’s son Robert Harris, five, is keeping tabs on their progress via the computers at Thornton Watlass Primary School, near Bedale.

Headteacher Adam Pritchard-Jenkins said: "We have a map up of the route and they came in to talk to the children before they set off.

"They spoke about their journey and how they’re preparing for it and they children are now aware of what Help for Heroes is about.

"They are following the route on the map and they are very excited to have seen them here and then three days later they are in Africa.

"Robert was very pleased to see his dad in school and it’s not everyone whose dad does something like this.

"Hopefully they will come back into the school when they get back and give a talk about what they have done."

Flight Lieutenant Harris, of RAF Leeming, and photographer Mr Broadwith will travel over 5,000 miles on the trip as The Boneyard Boys.

They aim to reach Timbuktu, in Mali, after passing through France, Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, the Western Sahara and Mauritania.

The Peugeot had 260,000miles on the clock when they started but the team has managed to avoid any major problems.

The Peugeot will be given to the Rotary Club of Bamako, Mali, to be auctioned for funds to be used to develop clean water supplies for locals.

The pair's progress can be followed at plymouth-dakar.co.uk and to support the team visit justgiving.com/theboneyardboys.