The Big Learner Relay, covering more than 3,000 miles and 170 driving lessons, has made its way through Kent today.

The event, now in its ninth year, brought driving instructors from across the country together with their students to raise money for BBC Children in Need.

Driving instructors will be relaying a Pudsey top box from one driving lesson to another around the country for more than two weeks.

Today, instructors and pupils made their way through Gravesend, Medway, Sittingbourne, Canterbury, Dover, Hythe, and New Romney.

Each instructor needs to come up with ways to raise funds in whichever way works for them, their pupils and their businesses.

A popular way is via ‘sponsor a spot’, in which pupils, businesses, and the general public donate money to sign a coloured spot on the instructors’ cars.

On the last day of the relay, which falls on BBC Children in Need appeals day, on Friday, drivers will relay into the grand finale destination to complete a lap of the Goodwood Motor Circuit, in West Sussex.

More than £24,000 have been raised so far. Click here to make a donation.

Instructor Hannah Renklidağ and her learner Natalie were in charge of driving from the Historic Dockyard, Chatham, to Sittingbourne.

Hannah said: "What an amazing turnout we had, and what fun. It feels great to be taking part in something for such a good cause. The weather was better than we expected and the convoy all stayed together.

"I was so excited to be taking part in the Big Learner Relay 2022, it’s for a great cause and the community spirit it creates is amazing.

"We have already raised more than £20,000 and the reaction to our spotty cars has been great.

"We were all really excited to be involved and the amount of planning that has gone into the event is immense."

Hampshire driving instructor Louise Walsh is the inspiration behind The Big Learner Relay.

Not wanting to miss out on any of the fun, Lou is travelling the whole of the UK route in the back of each lead car’s lesson.

She said: "It has been a massive privilege to be doing this. This year is even more special as the relay was unable to take place due to the pandemic.

"We still did our fundraising and brought our community together online but seeing our Big Learner Relay friends face to face is going to be very special.

"It's wonderful to sit in the back of the cars and the highlight for me is watching our community come together and our pupils doing so amazingly, stepping up to the challenge and watching some really lovely lessons.

"The biggest privilege for me is watching the generosity of people who are just so delighted to be supporting such a wonderful cause."