Pensioners Roy and Janet Crawford only had seven miles to travel to join more than 12,000 other caravanners in a major event at Blenheim Palace.

But, instead of nipping home to Middle Barton for an easy night's sleep, they stayed on site for the duration of the Caravan Club's 80th national rally over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Around them were the massed ranks of caravans, motor homes and tented trailers set out like the army of John Churchill before the 18th century battle of Blenheim.

And in the caravan next to them was their daughter Lynne Ludlow and husband Derek, who live just a few doors from back in the west Oxfordshire village.

Mr Crawford, 70, said: "It's just fun to get away from home, even though it's just a few miles away. You've got everything here and, very important, you're among friends."

The roads around the historic palace were akin to a Wild West gold rush as an estimated 5,500 caravans converged on the park starting on Thursday evening and arriving throughout Friday and Saturday.

Though Mr Crawford and his family only came down the road, others arrived from all over the country, and some from abroad, as far as Poland and Finland. There were even Americans and Koreans who hired motorhomes to be there.

A whole section of the parkland was effectively turned into a large village, complete with its own pub - The Rally Inn - a supermarket in a marquee, open-air stage for entertainment, and even bus stops for people to get around the vast acreage.

Nikki Nichol, spokesman for the Caravan Club, said: "Why are there so many people now in caravans? Easy. People are realising that you can explore the UK at your leisure."