A MAN who bought a Thai tuk tuk from a Bolton seller during a "boozy night on eBay" has souped the three-wheeled vehicle up to try to beat the current tuk tuk world land speed record of 68mph.

Freight firm boss Matt Everard, aged 46, from Essex, will be joined by his cousin, 49-year-old Russell Shearman, for the Guinness World Record attempt at Elvington Airfield in North Yorkshire tomorrow.

Married father-of-two Mr Everard, from Billericay, bought the 1971 Bangkok Taxi from an eBay seller in Bolton in 2017.

He described the purchase as the result of a "boozy night on eBay, and maybe a mid-life crisis", adding: "Imagine explaining to your straight-talking Essex wife that, after she went up to bed one night, you ended up buying a Thai tuk tuk from a bloke on the internet."

He said he has since sunk £20,000 into improvements during a five-month rebuild, which included replacing the original two-stroke 350cc engine with a modern 1300cc fuel-injected Daihatsu van engine.

He said he hopes the tuk tuk is capable of reaching 90mph.

Mr Everard describes himself as a petrolhead who at one point owned eight cars, two boats, a jet ski and a quad bike.

He said his love for speed was inspired by his father, who owned various sports cars throughout his life, including a Jaguar, Ferrari and Porsche.

The tuk tuk is "great fun to drive" but potentially unstable, Mr Everard said.

Guinness World Records defines a tuk tuk, or autorickshaw, as a three-wheeled motorised vehicle, derived from the cycle rickshaw, which is capable of carrying at least two passengers on a bench behind the driver.

The record attempt is set to take place tomorrow, subject to weather conditions.