It was a vintage affair full of old-fashioned fun as vehicles spanning the decades rolled into a Cumbrian town.

Organisers of the 17th annual Silloth vintage rally hailed the latest event a success, with crowds flocking to the coast to see machines from another era.

More than 290 exhibitors displayed their vehicles on the Green - which was scorched due to the recent warm spell - whether they were engines, cars, vans, tractors, motorcycles or bicycles.

They included Allan Mitchell, of Holiday Crescent in Silloth.

Mr Mitchell, a retired hospital porter who used to work at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, was showing his 1958 blue Fordson Dexta (CORR) tractor.

"I've had this tractor about five or six years," he said.

"I've restored it with a friend. It still needs some work on it but it is always good to be able to come out and support a local event like this and help people come into the town.

"I've got a vintage trailer too, but I'm looking for another tractor to restore."

Derek Cross, who has a caravan at Tarns, near Aspatria, was exhibiting his 1967 Morris Mini Minor Traveller.

"It was my first car when I was 19 in 1978," he said.

"It's never left me. I did some of the interiors when I was a lad in the 1970s - the seats I sewed on my mother's sewing machine."

He added: "I had it for 13 years and then I put it away in my garage for 11 years.

"I did sell it once for scrap for £50 but when it came to it I couldn't get rid of it, I couldn't part with it.

"So I had it restored in 2006 and I've been driving around it in for 10 years now."

Mr Cross, of Formby in Merseyside, made his debut at the rally a year ago.
"The setting here is phenomenal and the atmosphere is fantastic, so I had to come back," said Mr Cross.

Friends Margaret Branney and Colin Pattinson (ALL CORR) were displaying three vehicles on behalf of Mrs Branney's brother David Roper, of Moss Bay Metals in Workington.

Mrs Branney, of Workington, said: "My brother's had to work so we're showing them for him.

"The Ford Transit Mk1 was his grandad's milk wagon and when he stopped doing the milk he sold the wagon.

"David managed to buy it back a few years ago now and has done it up."

Mr Pattinson, of Cleator Moor, added: "It's great to come and camp with all the other exhibitors for the weekend."

Entertainment in the main ring over the weekend included Joseph's Amazing Pig Racing, singer-songwriter Phil Saunders and Greg Chapman, who combines comedy, juggling and escapology.

Town mayor Tony Markley is chairman of the vintage rally.

He said: "The event has grown in stature over the years and it's great to see so many people down here.

"The exhibitors really enjoy coming and you can see that by how busy their camping area is.

"They all say it is a wonderful setting and it is free."

The two-day rally also included a fairground and charity stalls.

Carr's Flour opened up its museum to the public last Saturday (JUNE 11) as part of the rally celebrations.