More than 20,000 people are expected to enjoy an afternoon of nostalgia this weekend as more than 600 historic vehicles take part in an annual run to the seaside.

Bars, restaurants, takeaways and kiosks at Felixstowe are looking forward to bumper trading on Sunday as people flock to the prom to see the spectacle featuring classic cars, motorcycles, lorries, buses and military vehicles.

It will be the 45th annual Ipswich to Felixstowe Historic Vehicle Run organised by volunteers at the Ipswich Transport Museum, and supported by RH Specialist Car Insurance, Galloway Coach Travel and Lavenham Press.

Rally organiser Peter Cansick, who is co-ordinating the run for the museum, said: “The entrants and the public love this event – it’s been a fixture in the calendar for over 40 years and is of the most popular events in Ipswich and Felixstowe.

“It’s a tribute to all the volunteers who help in staging the event and vehicle owners who take part.”

Vehicles will gather in Christchurch Park, Ipswich, from 9.30am, where people can view them, before setting off for Felixstowe at 11.30am, taking a route which avoids the A14 and going through the Trimley villages and Walton High Street.

Hundreds of onlookers are expected to gather along the route.

The first vehicles are expected to line up on Felixstowe seafront from around 12.15pm, staying until 5pm depending on the weather.

There will be a souvenir programme for the rally available from event stewards.

Vehicles have to be more than 30 years old to take part. Ipswich Transport Museum’s 1939 Dennis Fire Engine “Nellie” will be one of the stars of the event and another unusual entrant is a 1950 Lister auto-truck.

More than 70 entrants pre-date 1939, plus many vehicles right up to the early 1980s, and around 100 motorcycles will form part of the rally.