A CAR that can drive as well on water as it does on tarmac is usually the stuff of futuristic fantasies and James Bond films.

But a pair of bright sparks have made their own amphibious car using only £450 and a bucket load of ingenuity.

Barclay Hamer and Dan Boot- Handford had their first successful dry, or should that be wet, run when their converted Volkswagen Polo made its maiden voyage in the River Adur on Sunday.

The nautical run-around raised smiles as well as cash for charity Friends First, which works with the homeless, long-term unemployed and the socially isolated.

The men, both 25, had dreamt of creating an amphibious car for a number of years and when the Polo came into their possession, the dream started to become a reality.

They took an engine and steering column from a boat, cut the roof off the car, welded a keel on the bottom and added a barrel and expanding foam for buoyancy.

Mr Hamer, from Findon, said: “We have spent probably about £450 but we still have a boat left over as well.”

The pair had tested the vehicle on water a couple of weeks earlier to check it was watertight but Sunday was the first time the pair had piloted their creation when they drove half a mile from the Ropetackle slipway at Shoreham to the Emerald Quay.

Mr Hamer said: “There was a chance that one of the bungs might pop out or something equally as catastrophic, so we did have our lifejackets with us.

“There were lots of smiles from the people watching, that’s for sure, and a lot of people coming up after we had finished and asking about how to donate so hopefully we will raise even more money.”

The run was not completely plain sailing, with the engine failing to work on full power.

The pair are not sure what to do with their creation next, but Mr Hamer said they had discussed the possibility of auctioning the boat to raise more money for Friends First.

Serena Crisp, from the charity, said: “This has to be one of our quirkiest and most creative fundraising ideas to date and it has certainly generated a huge amount of interest.

“We so appreciate every pound raised, it really does make a significant difference.”

To donate, visit uk.virginmoney giving.com/DanielBootHandford.