THE region's largest gathering of classic cars were on display at a North-East museum yesterday.

Almost 200 vehicles from throughout the North-East, as well as Yorkshire, Cumbria and southern Scotland, took part.

Among participants were models by famous makers, such as Austin, Daimler, Ford, Morris and Riley - all made between 1920 and the mid-1970s.

The display at Beamish Museum, County Durham, was organised by the North-East Club for Pre-War Austins, which, despite its name, welcomes cars of all pre-1970s makes.

A museum spokeswoman said: "This magnificent collection of cars represented some of the finest in motoring history, together with more modern vehicles with evocative names like Ford Consul, Cortina and Zodiac, Vauxhall Victor and Cresta, and Triumph Roadster.

"Of special interest were several rare examples of Rolls Royce, MG and Rover cars."