A VINTAGE red Robin Reliant travelled about four miles a week for 25 years...but completed 650 miles in one journey after it was bought on Ebay.

The classic three-wheeler belonged to Bernard Watson-Dotchin, of Weir Gardens, Rayleigh, and was bought by a couple who have retired to the south of France.

Bernard died in Southend Hospital aged 77 last month after suffering a gastric ulcer burst.

His brother Keith, of Eastcheap, Rayleigh, has since cleared out Bernard’s house and his two children suggested he sell the car on Ebay after a mechanic offered him £50 for it.

Keith, 72, said: “It took us about three weeks to clear the place – Bernard was a bit of a hoarder. One item we had to dispose of was the 1981 Reliant, which only had 18,000 miles on the clock.”

He said Bernard bought it secondhand and owned it for about 25 years, driving four miles a week at the most, between his home and the Sainsbury’s store at Rayleigh Weir.

Retired policeman David Harris and his wife Regina, from Derbyshire, bought the Reliant for £620, last month.

Keith said they were delayed collecting it because their original flight from France was cancelled due to the recent adverse weather.

The couple finally arrived in Rayleigh three weeks ago and, after a two-day stay with friends in London, they drove to Portsmouth and then to a region near Bordeaux.

Keith said: “I couldn’t believe they bought it and got all the way to France in it!

“They said they wanted a novelty run-around and on the journey back they stopped a few times and had their picture taken with lorry drivers.”

Keith said the couple have named the car Bernard.