HEXHAM Motor Club's rally was a success, with less than a minute separating the top three.

The Glendinning of Prudhoe John Robson rally attracted more than 50 entries from around the country, as crews battled rain and fog as they navigated themselves around the lanes of Northumberland and County Durham.

The annual rally takes place in February each year and starts and finishes at Hexham's Auction Mart.

The first section route started at 9pm behind Haydon Bridge passing through Allen Banks over Ridley Common and into Whitfield.

Hexham Courant: A Clan Crusader in the rally, which was a car built in Washington in the 1970sA Clan Crusader in the rally, which was a car built in Washington in the 1970s (Image: Jez Turner)

The second section saw crews go behind Allendale over Acton Moor and dropping into the first ford of the night at Acton Burn.

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The route then went round Sparty Lea and through the second ford, with most crews easily managing this section and arriving at the checkpoint at the correct time.

They then went through Allenheads and dropped into County Durham via Westgate.

The crews didn't return into Northumberland until the last section at 2am, taking them past Healy, Dipton Wood, Newbiggin and into the final check point just after Dipton Mill before heading in to the Auction Mart again to get their well deserved breakfasts.

There were more than 80 marshals out during the night, battling the wind and heavy rain at times, but temperatures stayed above freezing.

The club raised funds for Tynedale Hospice. Jonathon Webb from Hexham Motor Club commented: "It's fantastic to see crews and marshals from all over the country coming to visit the area, I know many stayed at local hotels and BnBs.

"We are forever grateful of the goodwill and hospitality of the local residents on the route, we saw plenty of people out watching and we hope you all enjoyed seeing the wide variety of cars in the event.

"A special mention goes to one of the recovery crews who rescued a stranded member of the public at 1am." 

Top three results: Richard Hunter (Matlock) / Gary Evans (Matlock) – Ford Escort – 2m 44s Kris Coombes (Preston) / Louis Baines (Preston) – Nissan Micra – 3m 33s Dan Sedgewick (Clitheroe) / Matthew Hewlett (Clitheroe) – Peugeot 306 – 3m 43s.