A STORMINGLY good second year for the Blackthorn Classic Car Show saw more than 1,500 people converge on the North Oxfordshire village for charity.

Almost 300 cars, motorcycles, tractors, military and commercial vehicles filled the centre of Blackthorn, with many coming from within the county.

Co-organiser Keith Crampton said the event's creators were "absolutely thrilled" with turnout to the event, which this year raised crucial funds for the Hummingbird Cancer Support and Therapy Centre in nearby Launton. Takings are still being counted but are believed to be in the region of £6,000 or above.

He said: "Last year was deemed to be a great success and there's no doubt that this year's was an even greater success.

"I'm thrilled to bits. We are very grateful to all the volunteer s and the people who brought their cars - some old, some irreplaceable and some modern, but all much loved."

Prizes were doled out on the day by Radio 2 presenter Alex Lester, himself a classic car buff, who selected a few cars with an extra something special to offer.

He chose a "delightful" Wolseley 1500 as the car he would most like to take home himself, as his parents reportedly owned a similar model.

The oldest car present on the day was a canary yellow 1919 Hispano-Suiza, an 18ft convertible owned by Blackthorn resident John Karslake.

Mr Crampton said: "In those days it was the car everybody wanted and if you couldn't get a Hispano-Suiza you made do with a Rolls Royce.

"It will be its 100th birthday in three years' time. It captures my imagination that this great leviathan of the past is still functioning.

"I love its history; to save it from being melted down during the war the owner at that time, who was a director at Tate & Lyle in London, converted it into an ambulance."

He added that another of his personal favourite models from the event was a Chevrolet Corvette owned by Fringford resident Les Harris, calling it "the sort of car to have dreams in".

All proceeds from the event will go towards running costs at the Hummingbird Centre, which offers specialist advice and support to people diagnosed with cancer.

It opened just two years ago and is completely volunteer-led, with all treatments provided to people from Bicester and the surrounding area for free.

For more information on the car show visit blackthornclassiccarshow.co.uk or to find out more about The Hummingbird Centre visit thehummingbirdcentre.org.uk