SOME of the 20million people expected to take a driving holiday this year could be excused for doing a double-take when they see some of the AA’s patrol vans.

Starting this month, five ‘flower power’ patrol vans – like this one driven by patrolman John McCarthy – have taken to the roads, to celebrate the Basingstoke-based company’s Summer Saviours campaign.

John, and four of his patrol colleagues across the UK, will be driving the limited edition vans for the whole summer. The vans will also feature in a YouTube video this summer on the AA’s YouTube page.

John, who showcased his van outside the AA’s Fanum House headquarters, on Basing View, said: “It’s not too subtle, so I’m hoping it will generate lots of interest.

“You can never guarantee the summer weather, but hopefully the van will guarantee a lot of smiles on the roads when people see me.

“We know that many of our members will be planning to get out and about this summer and we’re here to help them make the most of it.”

Anyone who spots one of the vans and tweets @TheAA_UK using #AAhippyvan with the location and time they saw it will be entered into a draw to win prizes throughout the summer.

The first prize, for June, will be five pairs of tickets to Glorious Goodwood.

People can also enter by re-tweeting #AAhippyvan tweets sent from @TheAA_UK and @AAPresident.