AN event which started out as a gathering of just 60 vehicles in the grounds of Kirkley Hall in 1997 brought Corbridge to a standstill on Sunday.

For such is the popularity of MG Northumbria’s Classics in Corbridge car show, which this year brought together over 800 vehicles from all eras, some visitors attempting to see it had to be turned away.

Reports of huge tailbacks on the A69 and some drivers queuing for up to an hour to get to the show at Tynedale Park, saw police intervening at around 1pm – just two hours after the gates had officially opened to the public.

A message posted on social media by Northumbria Police read: “Police called to vintage car event in Corbridge after reports of traffic problems on local roads – officers at scene managing traffic.

“Event now at full capacity and car park closed. Officers working with organisers and will remain in area to resolve traffic issues.”

And in a message posted on the MG Northumbria Facebook page on Sunday night, the organisers pledged to do their best to iron out problems for future events.

One of the team, George Hunter, said: “We can only apologise to Northumbria Police and Corbridge for the disruption and for those who got turned away.

“The police turned up and shut us down for around an hour, preventing anyone from coming in or out.

“We will investigate what went wrong and work with the police to try to make improvements next year.”

Motorists travelling to the event on the A695 seemed to be largely unaffected, but those coming off the A69 and through Corbridge were caught up in the chaos.

The main entrance into the rugby club was used to get the traffic in and those leaving were directed out through a side exit via the Stanners.

“The problem seemed to be that both met at the same junction on Station Road,” said George.

Between three and four thousand people are thought to have taken advantage of the good weather and made their way to the show, which is all held in aid of local charities and raised £12,000 last year alone.

“The figures seem to be the best we’ve ever had despite the traffic problems,” George added.

Meanwhile, the thousands of spectators who made it on to the showfield could spend hours wandering through rows and row of vehicles ranging from pre-war cars and 1960s camper vans, to rare motor cycles and commercial vehicles.

Trade stands, displays by North-East vehicle clubs and stalls raising funds for charities such as Daft as a Brush and Northumbria Blood Bikes, were also part of the event.

As show-goers crossed the car park they were greeted by a collection of motor bikes which saw Harley Davidsons lined up alongside vintage examples of Brough Superior and Zenith motor bikes.

As for cars, a 1955 Morris Minor Traveller, shown by Edmund Spence from Ferryhill in County Durham, attracted a lot of attention.

“The car has been in the family for about 20 years,” said Edmund.

“It used to belong to my brother-in-law and now it belongs to my son Paul.”

One of the few things left on the car when it came into the family was the bonnet, but after 10 years of painstaking restoration work to replace the entire body, and even the interior and seats, Edmund now travels to shows across the North-East to show it off.

Elsewhere on the field, from a 1939 Morris Supersix former London taxi to a sporty soft top 1949 red MG Midget or a 1967 VW splitscreen camper van, there was something to catch everyone’s eye.

Ovington‘s Ralph Crow spent the day chatting to car enthusiasts who were impressed by his carefully restored 1926 Morris Oxford, which is affectionately known as Basil, after one of its previous owners.

The former motor mechanic bought the vehicle in kit form two years ago and has gradually rebuilt it, complete with external temperature gauge which sits proudly on the bonnet.

“It’s amazing to think that I‘m only the fourth owner of the car,” explained Ralph.

“It was originally owned by a doctor in Leith, then a man in Portsmouth who was called Basil, but was killed in a shunt in another car. So I assume that‘s where the name Basil came from.”

Ralph bought the car from the third owner, who lived in County Durham, and admits he now gets a great deal of pleasure from polishing it up to make it show ready.

North Tyneside-based K9 Academy dog agility display team, a climbing wall from the Calvert Trust, have-a-go archery from the Border Reiver Archers and Barnacre Alpacas from Elsdon also kept families entertained.

At the end of the day, awards were handed out in recognition of the effort those exhibiting had put in to the event. Among those honoured were motor cycle enthusiasts from the Northumbria Branch of the Norton Owners Club, who won best club stand.