Fergal, the VW campervan with his own Twitter page

Sep 6 2009 by Jonny Greatrex, Sunday Mercury

Fergal, the Volkswagen campervan with its own Twitter page.

The 18-year-old motor has only five followers so far but expects a whole lot more when people learn of his exploits.

In fact, he’s just had the summer holiday of a lifetime.

Since setting out of his travels in June, Fergal has clocked up more than 3,000 miles and taken in two music festivals.

And all because his owner lost his job as a marketing manager in January.

The intrepid campervan belongs to dad Sam Roberts, who decided to press the VW into action and start his own business after being laid off.

Sam, 35, from Selly Oak, Birmingham, needed cash to support his six-month-old daughter Maya and partner Chrissy Brown.

He had his beloved van refurbished and started 25sevencamperhire, offering Fergal for rent and hoping to attract people looking for cheaper domestic holidays during the recession.

“It was something I’d had at the back of my mind but being made redundant was the catalyst to go and do it,” Sam told the Sunday Mercury.

“It couldn’t have gone better. Since July,. Fergal has not been home – he’s had a better social life than me.

“He has done 3,000 miles, been up to Robin Hood’s Bay and down as far as Newquay.

“That sort of mileage is incredible for just two months. The feedback from everyone who hires him has been fantastic. People have genuinely had a good time.”

And the new entrepreneur believes the friendly nature of Volkswagen owners has helped his business grow.

“I tell people they will need their VW wave when they leave,” he smiled. “They don’t know what I mean at first.