MORE than 20,000 people are expected to enjoy an outstanding array of vintage vehicles this weekend at one of the area’s most popular annual events.

Organisers say 500 classic cars, motorcycles, lorries, buses and military vehicles will take part in the 43rd annual Ipswich to Felixstowe Historic Vehicle Run on Sunday.

Vehicles have to be over 30 years old to take part and entries include a 1913 Ford Model T car, a 1915 Sentinel steam lorry and a 1976 Leyland Atlantean bus, which used to run in Ipswich.

One of the newest entrants is a 1982 Land Rover.

Rally organiser Trevor Ling said: “In 1971 the run attracted about 100 entrants. Nowadays we get five times that. It proves the popularity of the event and our love of nostalgia – the event has become a fixture in the calendar for over 40 years and continues to be one of the most popular events in Ipswich.

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

Vehicles will begin gathering for the run, organised by volunteers from the Ipswich Transport Museum, in Christchurch Park from 9.30am and will be inspected and then waved off by the mayor of Ipswich Mary Blake, leaving at 11.30am.

Hundreds of onlookers are expected to gather along the route to Felixstowe, with the first cars due to arrive on the prom at about 12.30pm, where they will remain for people to see and chat to the owners for the rest of the afternoon.

There will be a souvenir programme produced especially for the day available from event stewards.

Seafront traders are keeping fingers crossed for fine weather as the rally is one of the resort’s best-attended events of the year and usually brings a boost in business.

? Send us your photos of the day – upload them at suffolk.iwitness24.co.uk