LANDROVERS have had a bad press recently, but a husband and wife team are hoping to change all that.

Richard and Angela Dalton, of Patchway, Chippenham, launched the Chippenham Land-Rover Club to promote sensible driving and to give advice to vehicle owners.

Mr Dalton said they wanted to guard against incidents such as at Easton Grey, near Malmesbury, where 4x4 drivers damaged a Roman settlement.

The club is just two weeks old and already has 15 members. They are hopeful many more will join up and will have stands at fairs such as next month's Headington Steam Rally.

The couple are big LandRover enthusiasts and earlier this year drove 5,000 miles across the Sahara Desert to Algeria.

Mr Dalton said: "I work in the film industry and use LandRovers to transport all the equipment. I've been involved with Land-Rovers since I was young, it's a nice hobby.

"There are a lot of LandRovers around Chippenham. My aim is to help owners understand their vehicles and solve any problems they have with them."

In time the couple hope to organise weekend events with the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland as a potential destination.

Membership is free. For more details contact Richard Dalton on (01249) 464812 or email Richard.Dalton@lineone.net.