Vintage vehicles star at Audlem Festival of Transport

More than 300 old and new vehicles were on display at the 17th Audlem Festival of Transport which took place on the village playing fields yesterday.

The event began with a parade of motorbikes, cars, tractors and buses from the past 100 years through the village, near Market Drayton.

They then assembled on the playing field off Cheshire Street for closer inspection. One of the classic car fans showing their vehicles at the show was Melvin Bevan, who used to live in Market Drayton.

Mr Bevan was at the show with a 1925 and 1929 Morris.

He said: "We go all round the country attending classic car shows.

"We have been coming to this show in Audlem for the past three years and it has always been very good.

"Last year it rained so it wasn't as good as this year.

"The weather has been brilliant for us and it has been a great day out.

"Everyone is so friendly and it is well organised.

"It took us two years to get the 1925 Morris into working order and then because we had learnt the tricks it only took a year to get the 1929 one working.

"They both drive really well and we love coming to these shows for people to see them."

Also taking place in the village this weekend was the historic narrowboats gathering on the canal at Audlem Wharf next to Audlem Mill and the Shroppie Fly.

A total of 31 vintage boats were expected to be moored down the recently refurbished canal towpath.

They were moored from the A525 road bridge near Audlem Mill down to Lock 15.

People could also take a trip on the canal with the Audlem Lass boat service that runs from Lock 15 to Overwater Marina.

This service carries about 4,000 passengers a year and raises large sums of money for the RNLI, the lifeboat charity.