The Team Coffin Dodgers were not downhearted – they joined other cars in the Dumball Rally and continued their 1,700-mile adventure to raise money for the War Child charity.

Reuben Lowe (31), Aaron Barnham (36), Scott Olive (32) and Kieron Lowe (27), already experienced the temperament of their hearse when the gearbox gave up just after they bought it and the engine blew out shortly afterwards – both were replaced before the race.

All four men, from the Bircham and Fakenham area, dressed the part as the grim reaper, undertakers and nuns.

But a blown head gasket proved too much for the 1984 model and despite removing the thermostat, just two hours out of Brussels the car finally met its maker.

"We have yet to foot the pending bill," said Reuben Lowe on the team's website blog.

All the 35 starting cars had to be bought for less than £400 in order to take part, and the team's hearse, complete with added pink flames, had to be recovered from the roadside.

Their problems were not completely over as, having split into two other cars, a major detour was required after Germany refused entry for the rally which runs from Brussels to Corfu.

"After too long a day we arrived in Slovenia and we felt that the adventure finally had begun with the longest of the day's miles behind us," the blog continued yesterday morning.

The rally was due to finish today or tomorrow and the Coffin Dodgers hope to raise £400 for the charity.

Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/coffin_dodgers