Watch as powerful Beemers, hot hatches and sporty Mazda race to raise money for teen's Africa trip

Petrolheads took powerful BMWs, hot hatchbacks and a sporty Mazda around a Stafford racetrack to help a teenager raise money for a volunteering trip to Zanzibar.

Millie Edwards, aged 17, from Telford, organised the day partly to help fundraise for her trip to teach English with My African Adventures next year, but also to give car lovers somewhere safe to enjoy their cars and show what they can do.

It comes amid a police crackdown on car cruises in Shropshire.

Millie, from Muxton, arranged the event at Stafford Driving Centre, Seighford, Stafford.

Taking to the track were a variety of cars including high-powered BMWs, a Mazda MX5, a Honda Civic and a Ford Fiesta ST.

Millie, who is currently learning to drive, said: “This is a place for people, if they're a learner, to drive their parent’s car, or their own car. They can do hot laps with one of the instructors, or race their own car around the track if they fancy it.

“We’re raising money to go to Zanzibar next year. It’s with the charity My African Adventures. It’s to teach in school, reconstruct school, anything like that just to help them get a better environment.”

Millie hoped the event would give car enthusiasts a safe place to enjoy their cars, given police have been targeting car cruising and anti-social driving.

Asked about whether boy racers give car enthusiasts a bad name, Millie said: “I don’t think it’s ever really been about that. It’s more about people wanting to show off their passion for cars. But some people take it a bit far.”

She is hoping to organise more track days in the future.

For more information on any future events, visit facebook.com/events/s/millies-private-track-day-and-/1655339955553107/.