Rain fails to dampen spirits at steam rally

After last year's summer storms forced the cancellation of a popular annual steam and vintage rally near Kidderminster a few light showers were not going to stop people turning out in their thousands for this year's show.

If 2007 was a low for organisers of the steam and vintage rally in Trimpley, near Bewdley, then 2008 was definitely a high with families and fans of vintage vehicles piling through the gates. Held at Bite Farm, Trimpley Lane, this year's show was billed as the biggest and best yet and did not disappoint.

Among the 400 cars, lorries and tractors on display was an SOS motorcycle owned by Len Taylor, from Hallow, near Worcester.

But the show was not limited to old vehicles with other attractions including the Forest Dog Rescue Companion Show, tradestands, a working farm area with a threshing machine, saw bench and cider making.

Among those who attended the event was the Gibson family from Wolverley. Father Mark said his two children Jake, aged 10, and Luke, 7, loved the show the first time they came in 2006 and were disappointed by last year's cancellation.

He said: "I love looking at the old vehicles and my children are big car fanatics so it's ideal for all of us.

There have also been a number of additional attractions this year which have made it a really good family day out and it's also great value for money.

But it not just the younger generation who enjoyed the event. George Tyler, aged 71, from Cookley, near Kidderminster, said: "I particularly enjoy looking at the old vehicles to see if there's anything around which I might have owned myself in the past.

"I've been coming here since the event started and it seems to get bigger and better every year."

All the money raised from this year's event will be donated to the County Air Ambulance and other local charities.