THE roads of County Durham will adopt the look of a bygone era as a cavalcade of lovingly restored cars takes part in a now annual test of safety and reliability.

Despite fears it would fall victim to the foot-and-mouth outbreak, the Beamish Reliability Run, backed by The Northern Echo and Land Rover dealer Dutton Forshaw, celebrates its landmark 30th year tomorrow.

From just after 8.30am the first of a fleet of 92 vehicles, all dating from the pre-1950 era, will set off from the car park at Beamish Museum, near Stanley.

Given a clear run, a good head wind and no mechanical difficulties, the first finishers should complete the 91-mile course back at the open air museum by about 1.15pm.

Following advice from the former Ministry of Agriculture and the police, the go-ahead was given only a month ago, leaving organisers little option but to stage the now annual event on a reduced format.

Past runs have taken in rural roads in both County Durham and neighbouring North Yorkshire.

But with foot-and-mouth still lingering in parts of the White Rose county the decision was taken to restrict the route to County Durham.

The vehicles will head down the A693 to Chester-le-Street, then veer south towards Durham, taking in the first of eight checkpoints, many at places of interest. This year's course forms a massive figure-of-eight, with a prime vantage point at West Auckland village green, at the centre of the figure-of-eight route.

Cars should pass through West Auckland twice, from about 10.30am, and, on the return, from noon.

George Jolley, of the North-East Club for Pre-War Austins, said the traditional route was revised to avoid going near farm land or roads adjoining infected areas.

"We wanted to maintain the tradition of the reliability run, but we certainly wanted to respect the farmers.

"We've had a great deal of help to get this staged, and the police have been marvellous.

"All we need now is the weather to stay fine and it will make everyone's day more pleasant."

Among the competitors is a distinctive 1936 Morris 8 van, the pride and joy of printer Norman Lindsley and his wife Isabel.

Unlike most of the entrants, he still uses the eight-horsepower vehicle to travel to work, in Hetton-le-Hole, on Wearside, nearly 20 miles from his home in Medomsley Edge, near Consett, nearly every day.

The Lindsleys' van is number 11 tomorrow.

Visitors to Beamish will also be able to run the rule over 200 Rover cars which are taking part in a static rally at the museum site over the weekend.