A GROUP of Mini enthusiasts will be embarking on a 3,000 mile trip to Spain tomorrow.

The Swindon Mini Associates Club, based in Rodbourne, will be going to Salou for the two-week trip.

And the chairman of the association, Alan Jones, 27, says from now until September the club will have at least two national events every month.

The club now attracts 45 members who are mostly from Swindon. They will leave Rodbourne at 11am on Friday morning to start the journey.

They will drive to Dover and go across the channel to Calais.

From there they will drive down the west coast of France, past Andorra, which is on the French and Spanish border and then make their way through Spain until they reach Salou.

Mr Jones, who is an IT consultant, is thrilled to be making the trip.

He said: "We do big runs like this a couple of times a year. But this is the biggest trip we've ever been on.

"We're all Mini enthusiasts and we get together once a month to arrange events.

"We're really looking forward to the trip."

Mr Jones now owns three Minis but at one time owned seven.

The club is also looking for a new charity, which members can raise money for on trips.

For more information, visit the website www.imm2005.org.