WITH flags waving, lights blazing and horns blaring, more than 100 Minis and classic cars joined the traffic heading out of Dover docks after taking part in a 4,000 mile rally inspired by the film The Italian Job.

Each year, Mini enthusiasts take part in the four-day rally which not only provides them with an exciting motoring experience, but also raises money for one of the UK’s leading children’s charities, NCH Action for Children.

The cars arrived on board a SeaFrance ferry at the Eastern Docks on Saturday afternoon.

The colourful convoy was then given a police escort along the A20 Townwall Street, Snargate Street and Limekiln Street on their way to Folkestone, and then to the Ashford International Hotel, which was the official finishing line for the event.

The “jobbers”, as the participants are known, had left the UK the previous Wednesday, to travel through France and Switzerland to the scenic Italian region of Emilia Romagna.

Driving well off the beaten track, they had taken part in a series of fun-filled navigational trials designed to test the stamina and skills of the teams.

The Italian Job touring event has raised nearly £450,000 for NCH over the past three years, and has raised £1.5 million for children's charities since 1990, thanks to the fundraising efforts of the jobbers.

NCH is one of the UK's leading children's charities and supports more than 100,000 of the most vulnerable children, young people and their families through over 500 projects so that they have the opportunity to reach their full potential.