Hundreds of lovingly cared-for old cars chugged the 60 miles from London to Brighton on Sunday (November 5) to mark the 120th year of the longest running motoring event in the world.

More than 450 vehicle owners began the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run in Hyde Park on a route that took them past Clapham Common and through Tooting, Morden, Colliers Wood and down the A217 through Rosehill and Banstead.

Thousands of spectators lines the route. Among them was Donna Rutherford from Colliers Wood, who said: “It was awesome watching the cars travel through Colliers Wood High Street, it was well worth getting up early for.”

Although a number of cars were diverted following a crash involving one of the participating vehicles, 315 of the 401 starters made it to Brighton to claim a special finishers’ medal.

The run marked the end of organisers the Royal Automobile Club’s London Motor Week, a seven day celebration of motoring.

This year’s winner was Robert Abrey who drove an 1899 Daimler who was awarded with a Chopard Mille Miglia Chronograph worth £4,950.

Bonhams Veteran Car Run marked 121 years since the original Emancipation Run, which was held in 1896 to celebrate the Locomotive on the Highway Act.

Among the celebrities who signed up to join the race this year was adventurer Charley Boorman, who drove a 1904 Rover 8hp from the British Motor Museum.

BBC presenter Alex Jones was due to follow the run in a fleet of classic buses, all carrying successful bidders who raised money for BBC Children in Need.

Tom Purves, chairman of the Royal Automobile Club, said: “Few events in today’s international calendar can claim such individuality, personality and character.”