For three decades, the lorries of Botts Fuels were a part of the family business. So when they began showing their age, it fell to former coalman Peter Bott to restore them to their former glory.

Mr Bott, from Staffordshire, was one of thousands of enthusiasts who descended on Weston Park on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border over the Bank Holiday for the Midlands Festival of Transport. Mr Bott, 50, was proudly showing off his ex-army striking blue 1952 Bedford OL.

The vehicle was bought for the family business in 1966 for £300.

He and his late father, Norman, were behind Norton Canes-based Botts Fuels, which delivered in the Staffordshire area for 30 years until its closure in 1999.

The father and son team worked on restoring the lorry in 1996.

Mr Bott, who spent 32 years delivering coal around the region, said: “It was with us when I was a kid and it’s been totally restored. It took 12 months and it was hard work, day in day out. We didn’t stop work.”

He was also showing off a white 1967 Bedford, which was bought by his father in 1967.

He spent around a year and £3,500 on revamping it.

Mr Bott, of Hednesford Road, said: “It’s been my livelihood. It’s what I’ve done all my life.

“I started in the coal trade once I left school and I’ve never done anything else, so these have got sentimental value.”

Festival chiefs were disappointed with Sunday’s turnout of around 2,500, while the final gate was expected to be around 9,000 – down on last year’s 18,000.

John Chatwin, from co-organisers Country Fairs, said: “The cold weather kept a lot of people away.

“On Monday they were coming in hard and fast. It’s been bitterly cold but there are lots of smiling faces.

“We’ve had a wonderful turnout of exhibitors, bigger than we’ve had for a long time.

“We hope that we’re going to make a success out if it, just not as big a success as it might have been.

“We’re looking forward to next year because Easter is going to be much later in the spring.”