EVERGREEN vehicles are being revved up for their annual test of endurance on an undulating course around rural roads in the North-East.

The 35th safety and reliability trial, now simply known as the Beamish Run, takes place on Sunday.

It has attracted a record field for recent years of more than 130 vintage and veteran vehicles, all at least 50 years old, whose proud owners hope to complete the 155-mile route, mainly through County Durham and North Yorkshire.

They will set off at intervals from a new starting point, at Chester-le-Street's Riverside Park, from 8.30am, beginning with the oldest competitor, run regular 87-year-old Cyril Purvis, an MBE, on his 123CC BSA motorcycle.

He will lead the cavalcade towards the first few checkpoints, including one under the portico of Bowes Museum, at Barnard Castle.

The now traditional lunch-stop is at Bainbridge village green, in North Yorkshire, where crowds usually gather to view the array of vehicles.

A change was introduced to the route last year, avoiding the A66 for safety reasons, missing out Cotherstone and Bowes, but now taking in Mickleton and Romaldkirk.

The afternoon stages also include the crossing of the shallow waters of the River Wear at Stanhope Ford, where there will be six marshalls on hand to ensure no mishaps.

Honorary secretary and opening marshall George Jolley said: "We don't see why it shouldn't be safe to cross, providing it's reasonable weather and drivers are sensible.

"We will have observers watching the vehicles cross, because our main concern is public safety."

First finishers are expected back at Riverside Park at about 4pm, having passed through ten marshalled checkpoints, where they will be checked and questioned by experienced marshals.

The event is competitive, with a strong accent on motoring safety, as there are also secret checkpoints where driver behaviour is observed.

Competitors are also quizzed at the checkpoints for their knowledge of the Highway Code with points tallied up in all categories before the winner of the Beamish Enthusiasts Trophy is revealed.

Defending champion, Andrew Raine, from Spennymoor, County Durham, is again in the field in his 1947 Alvis TA14, among the later starters at number 104.