FILM fans are in for a treat as one of the world's best-known cars heads to Ludlow.

Three generations have watched and been delighted by the classic 1968 British film comedy Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and now a faithful replica will begin its near 1,000 mile journey to Switzerland, via Germany from Ludlow Castle.

The madcap adventure aims to raise awareness of prostate cancer and to encourage older men to get regular tests. Any funds raised in the UK will be donated to Prostate Cancer UK. Monies raised in Germany will go to local charities.

The car will be on display outside Ludlow Castle from 10am to 1.30pm on Sunday, August 18. The following week, it will begin a journey that takes in scenes from the film, including the Chilterns' Cobstone Windmill, the home of Dick Van Dyke's Caractacus Potts, and Rothenburg, which was used as the Vulgarian village where the child snatcher prowled with his net, and ends in Switzerland.

Sadly, this recreation of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang cannot fly. Much of the journey will be by trailer, but the final leg will see the car, built on a 1929 Humber chassis and running gear with a Morris 1000 engine and gearbox, take on the Furka Pass, which featured in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang writer Ian Fleming's James Bond film, Goldfinger.

The car will reach heights of more than 2,400 metres on each of the Susten, Furka, and Grimsel passes.

Many of the team behind this venture, known as the MAD Men, are from Shropshire. MAD Men was set up after team leader Tim Preece, 60, was diagnosed with symptomless prostate cancer by a prostate specific antigen blood test. After having his prostate removed, the cancer returned. Seven weeks of radiotherapy followed and he is now living a lively life. He passionately believes that men need to know more about prostate cancer and the need for annual testing to catch the disease early.

Information about prostate cancer and testing will be available on the day. 

The MAD Men have set up a Just Giving page to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK: bit.ly/madchitty.