TV personality Mike Brewer popped up in Swindon this week, working with a local garage in a “Classic Rumble” which sees him doing up a car for charity.

Working with Cross Street Garages, he is restoring a 1989 Ford Escort back to its former glory. The vehicle is due for auction later this year at the Birmingham NEC’s Classic Motor Show as part of a competition against his on-screen counterpart Ant Anstead.

The money raised will be donated to the Marie Crawford-Boyd Foundation, which helps sufferers of the terminal illness Wegener's vasculitis, and Harrison's Fund, who are dedicated fight duchenne muscular dystrophy.

“In conjunction with Lancaster Car Insurance I’ve taken on a challenge called the Classic Rumble,” said Mike. “We’ve got two fantastic charities.”

Explaining how he chose the Swindon garage, he said: “This is my project – a 1989 Ford Escort XR3I. When I got the car, I needed to work with people who understood this car.”

One of the mechanics at Cross Street is a member of an Escort RS owners club, and through him, he got in touch with Sat Nijar, the managing director of Cross Street.

“It’s great for them to find a local company in Swindon,” said Sat. “It puts Swindon on the map, and Swindon is a car sort of town anyway, isn’t it?

“We’ve got admin staff sourcing parts, and apprentice staff helping out with it. It’s for a charity, so it’s nice to be giving something back.

“When Mike asked us to do it he didn’t think we would go in this deep.”

Mike was enthusiastic about the prospect of the car, currently nothing more than a bright red shell, being ready in time for November’s auction.

He said: “When you take on a project with a car the very first thing is to join an owners’ club – that’s a general tip for everyone.

“Actually, when we got it, it was quite a solid car – there were a few areas of rust. Everything has been restored and put back where it should be.

“The engine was incredibly tired, so we’ve rebuilt it.”

Asked how much he hoped to raise, Mike said: “That’s the million-dollar question. We don’t know: with a car like this, it comes down to the time and the room and how generous people are feeling for charity.

“One sold recently for £35,000 so you never know. If it makes £20,000, I’ll be drinking champagne on the rostrum.”