VINTAGE vehicles were literally up in the clouds as they tackled an annual endurance run amid un-seasonally damp conditions yesterday.

The Beamish Run, a recreation of pre-war reliability rallies over rural roads round the region, takes place each year on what is the nearest Sunday to mid-summer's day, to ensure maximum light and, hopefully, good weather.

But, the curse of the Great British Summer struck yesterday, as persistent rainfall blighted the 41st running of the event.

Some of the more fragile among the 135-strong entry of lovingly restored cars and light vans, all dating from pre-1956, failed to even make the start at Beamish Museum, County Durham, due to mechanical problems.

Several others chugged over the finishing line last night, several hours after the first arrivals back following the 150-mile round trip in County Durham and North Yorkshire.

Organiser George Jolley, who has experienced all conditions taking part in, or overseeing, all 41 revived runs, said it was among the wettest days for the event down the years.

"It was pretty wet in some parts and a real problem for one or two of the cars, but at least it remained dry, if a little chilly, for the traditional lunch stop at the village green in Bainbridge.

"The cloud base was so low that some of the drivers said they were up in the clouds coming over the Buttertubs, between Muker and Hawes."

Mr Jolley said the first finisher was an MG, at around 3.45pm, but it will not be until Wednesday that the results from all ten checkpoints would be tallied up to work out the winners of the 14 different prize categories.

Among those who failed to make the start was the Earl of Strathmore, a cosuin of the Queen, and his son George.

It was the 'Laird's' third planned run in his 1953 R-Type Bentley, but he has still to compete due to a variety of reasons, mainly mechanical.

He contacted Mr Jolley on the eve of the run to apologise as a family bereavement prevented his participation this year.