He drove his 1954 Austin A40 Somerset on a 1,100 mile return round trip from Overgate Hospice, Elland, to Land's End in Cornwall.

Mr Bradley, a window cleaner, of Ripponden, planned what would have been a scenic route along the back roads down to Cornwall but for the constant torrential rain.

He spent five days travelling the 700 miles down and made the more direct 400-mile return journey in nine hours.

Mr Bradley, a father of two, expects to have raised £1,200 for Overgate.

His wife, Muriel, died aged 53 from cancer in 2000 and he planned the trip in her memory.

Although she never stayed in a hospice Mr Bradley later became aware of the role they play in caring for the terminally ill and was surprised to learn most of the running costs for a hospice has to be raised voluntarily.

His car attracted interest along the journey and he said a lot of people were surprised to learn hospices were not funded by the NHS.

The 54-year-old car only had 49,000 miles on the clock and completed the journey without problems returning 23mpg urban and nearly 30mph on the motorways. "I've had it 10 years and had another two Somersets before and never had a breakdown," he said.

"It is a wonderful car and my next trip might be a little amble to Skipton."

Outstanding pledges can be paid at Overgate Hospice and the registrated charity number is 511619.