A CAR which drove 5,000 miles across the world on a charity challenge has returned home - only to be totalled at a roundabout.

The Nissan Micra, known as Sheila, now stands abandoned by the duck pond in Chislehurst Common having returned from the Mongol Rally three weeks ago.

Driven by Sean Canty and James Bennett, the car was due to cover 8,000 miles in the charity event, finishing in Mongolia.

But disaster struck when Sheila's gearbox broke on their arrival in Bulgaria and the pair lost their passports.

Without their visas, they were unable to continue their trip, having already passed through Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Italy, Turkey, France and Switzerland.

Mr Canty, of Artington Close, Farnborough, said: "It was cursed from start to finish.

"We weren't allowed to scrap the car in Bulgaria because of all the paperwork involved so we had to get it fixed and drive it back."

Just three weeks after arriving home, Mr Canty was hit by another car as he crossed a roundabout. Sheila is a write-off.

The 23-year-old said: "It is quite sad really, I couldn't believe we'd driven all that way for her to end up like that - she'd become one of the family."

Despite the setbacks, Mr Canty and Mr Bennett managed to raise more than £1,000, which will go to charities Send a Cow and the Christina Noble Children's Foundation.

Send a Cow provides livestock to poor farmers in Africa, enabling them to become self-reliant.

Christina Noble Children's Foundation serves children in need of emergency and long-term medical care as well as providing education and vocational training.

Mr Canty's insurers will remove the car within the next few days.

Mr Canty says despite the setbacks, the trip has given him a taste for adventure and he hopes to do more travelling in the future.

He added: "It's such a shame that something as silly and careless as losing our passports caused things to be cut short like that but it was a great experience."