MORE than 100 lorries spanning 50 years were on parade at the Orwell Crossing truckstop as part of the annual Crowfield Truck Rally.

Colin Adwent

MORE than 100 lorries spanning 50 years were on parade at the Orwell Crossing truckstop as part of the annual Crowfield Truck Rally.

Organisers said they were delighted with the turnout for the event next to the A14 near Ipswich, estimating at least 1,500 people had gone along.

Simon Waspe, one of the co-directors of the rally with Danielle Harvey, said it has grown enormously since it began in a field at a village pub near Earl Stonham.

Mr Waspe said: “It's taken four years to get here from nothing. It's fantastic. I'm elated.

“We started with 52 vehicles in a field behind the Crowfield Rose pub in August 2006 and it has grown beyond where I thought it would four years ago.”

From humble beginnings the rally proved such a success that the organisers had to move it to a larger venue.

With 111 vehicles on show at yesterday's event, and 53 trophies to be handed out, there was plenty to see and do for all the family.

Children were well catered for with face painting, a climbing wall, archery, a bouncy castle and toy stalls. There was even a rodeo bull.

The lorries and trucks came from Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Hertfordshire. The oldest was a three-ton Commer diesel dating back to the 1950s, while others were up to 180 tonnes.

Mr Waspe said: “We could have doubled the size of this rally, but we are trying to keep it a small, local show.”

Although entry was free, visitors were asked to make donations for charity. Mr Waspe said he was hopeful this year's rally would raise �2,000 for the East Coast Truckers' Children Charity.