Sean Becheley quoted £2,000 for the trip - less than half the fare demanded by local cabbies in Peniche, near Lisbon.

Amanda Jones agreed in her desperation to get home to Southampton with 18-month-old son William, husband Neil, his brother Craig and wife Samantha.

So Sean, 45, got pal Barry Hamilton to share the 36-hour ride via the ferry to France and then through Spain to collect the family he'd dropped off at Gatwick a week earlier.

Tax consultant Amanda, 39, said: "All flights and trains were full for weeks and a hire car would have cost far more.

"So we're grateful to Sean for coming all that way - even if our cheap and cheerful holiday turned really expensive."

Sean said: "It beat any trip I'd ever made - but I'm not sure I'd like to do it again."

Faro Car Hire