Horns tooted, engines revved and flags fluttered when nearly 100 cars roared out of Blenheim Palace for the first leg of a cross-Channel challenge.

Cars of all shapes and sizes lined up for the start of the Twin Town Challenge to raise cash for Charlbury charity SpecialEffect.

The charity's founder Dr Mick Donegan sounded the starting horn, the signal for 400 people – many in fancy dress – to dash to their motors to begin a weekend of challenges.

All the cars cost under £500, and are decorated in an array of designs.

There was something strange in the neighbourhood when the Ghostbuster ECTO-1 car rolled into the Woodstock palace grounds, and two cars done up as Blues Brothers police cars were on a mission from God.

Other cars were decorated to resemble a golf course, sharks and a football pitch. One was kitted out in Oxford United colours.

A Jaguar bore Union Jack paintwork with a licence plate reading SWINGERS.

The cars did a lap of the palace grounds before setting off for Silverstone for their first challenge – racing round the famous circuit.

Then it was off to Le Touquet, in northern France, via the Eurotunnel, and a welcome reception.

They will take part in two more days of challenges there before returning to Oxfordshire on Monday for an awards ceremony.

The event has far raised £175,000 of its £250,000 target for the charity which supports disabled people to access technology to play games and interact with friends and family.

Dr Donegan said he was amazed to see all the differently decorated cars and team costumes.

He added: "I am pretty amazed and humbled that everyone has put in so much effort.

"It is incredible, I'm basically blown away. It's absolutely terrific.

"This means everything to us."

Andrew Hammond, managing director of Oxford Products in Witney, was in a Mercedes C-Class with his brothers Graham and Richard and dad Alec. Talking at Silverstone, he said: "The car won't let us down, it's really good.

"We are feeling electric at the moment. We have already been told-off for doing a skid at the check in desk and expect to be the most told-off team."

The Real Men Wear Pink team of Colin Finch, Lee Herbert, Mark Barclay and Simon Smith were looking swish in flashy pink suits, ties and wigs driving a bright pink 1998 Jaguar XJ Sport V8.

Mr Smith, from Witney, said they hoped to be the most colourful team in the challenge.

He said: "We want to spread the word of pink around Europe.We feel fantastic."