NORTH-EAST sports car fans got their first glimpse of the ultra-rare Morgan Aero Eight at the weekend.

The hand-crafted dream machine was star of the show when Morgan owners converged on Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, for a get-together.

Morgan dealer John Macdonald brought the Aero Eight to the North-East after its successful international motor show debut at Geneva earlier this year.

More than 50 Morgans were put through their paces at the museum as owners demonstrated their driving skills in thrilling action on the events field.

Entrants included versions of the early three-wheelers, which made the company famous by winning everything from trials to races as far back as the early years of the century.

Among the enthusiasts who inspected the Morgan Aero Eight was Tony Oliver (right)

Picture: Andy Lamb