TRUCKS armed with flame throwers, army tanks and customised vehicles driven by eccentric characters in face paint brought a post-apocalyptic atmosphere to north Oxfordshire.

The mechanical masterminds behind some of the county’s quirkiest cars John and Geof Bitmead staged the Mad Max-style Apocalypticus: Road2Ruin festival for petrol heads.

Oxford Mail:

The pair, who run Attitude Autos in Ambrosden near Bicester, are best known for creating a lifesize, drive-able Little Tikes car.

This time the pair plunged the county into a post-apocalyptic world by transforming land surrounding Westcott Social Club, in Westcott, for the second annual festival.

John Bitmead said it took the pair, with a team of people helping, four months to prepare the festival site which attracted 350 people from September 21 to 23.

Oxford Mail:

He said: “We took an abandoned bit of land which the social club never use, so took a long time clearing weeds and brambles.

“For the past three months we have been building the site from thousands of pallets to help create little routes through the village.

“It was like a little rat run with each area given a distinct look. For example, a surgery theme which was quite Halloween-like, a scavengers’ exchange, a workshop, a fort made from garden sheds and a big stage.”

Oxford Mail:

Festival-goers were dressed up in perfect ragged style to make their way through the various scenes offering up bands, dancers, DJs, food and drink, trade stalls and ‘distressing-stations for costumes.

There was also a road run of apocalyptic-themed cars along a 40 mile route through the county and beyond.

Vehicles included cars embellished with skulls, spikes, weapons and monster tyres.

Oxford Mail:

Mr Bitmead added: “We had absolutely 100 per cent of people saying they wanted to come back again and loved it. Everyone commented how brilliant the village scenes were.

“By the end of it all we all had so much fun and it was great to see everyone smiling.”

The festival hopes to return next year for its third annual event in July. for more details search Apocalypticus on Facebook.