A TOY orang-utan, which lives at Hillendale Land Rover in Nelson, took a front seat in the oldest Land Rover in the world to lead a 350-strong convoy.

The aim of the parade, at the Jaguar Land Rover test track in Gaydon, was to set a new world record and raise money for Help For Heroes.

Orangey, the orang-utan, has already done a tour on the front line with soldiers in Afghanistan and competed in last year’s Help for Heroes 4x4 European Rally.

He’s also well-travelled, visiting holiday destinations with several of the Lomeshaye garage’s customers.

Convoy For Heroes was a weekend of events organised by Land Rover enthusiasts, which is expected to raise in the region of £10,000 for the charity.

One was an auction for a seat in the leading Land Rover — the world's oldest — the 1949-manufactured HUE 166.

The winning bid was by David Doyle, who donated the seat to his 14-year-old son Daniel.

A further generous donation by an anonymous benefactor allowed Orangey to ride along.