A NATIONAL 'drive it' day will see classic cars converge on Oxford's Mini plant on Sunday.

The museum in the T Building of the plant in Cowley will be opened up from 10am until 4pm as enthusiasts celebrate 50 years of British Leyland and 70 years of the Morris Minor.

The event is intended to encourage classic car owners to drive their cars and a number of Minis and British Leyland Cars will make the trip to the plant where they will go on display.

Organisers particularly want to meet people who currently work at the plant or did so in the past at the event which is free and open to everyone.

Rover author, James Taylor, who has just written a book detailing cars made by British Leyland between 1968 and 1986 will join the drivers on the day.

Drive It Day is held on the closest Sunday to April 23 and commemorates the Royal Automobile Club Thousand Mile Trial, held on this date in 1900.

Participating cars started in London and passed through many English cities into Scotland before returning to London.

The anniversary is now used by the Federation of British Historical Vehicles Clubs to encourage people to take their classic cars out and Oxford's Mini plant is thought to be the only manufacturing facility to take part.