HISTORY went on the move when hundreds of old vehicles descended on The George at Longbridge Deverill for the annual Noggin Nosh and Natter.

The event, held in the pub car park and surrounding fields, started 36 years ago with a group of vintage vehicle enthusiasts meeting for a drink. The gathering was named after their fondness for a bite to eat and a lot of chat about their hobby.

Now the gathering, the biggest free vintage show in Wiltshire, has almost reached bursting point with hundreds of old cars, commercial vehicles and motorcycles spreading out from the pub's car park onto the surrounding fields.

Founder John Pomeroy was staggered at the amount of interest in the show.

He said: "We never advertise, it just happens. It's scheduled for the last Wednesday night in July each year and hundreds always remember."

John brought a 1937 Austin to the show, which started life as a Post Office van in the war years. He said;” It was bought by my grandfather after the war, and I managed to purchase it as it was a bit of family history and spent time in restoring it." It now is in the livery of his late grandfather’s business.

Event organiser Mary Bailey, vice chairman of Commercial Transport in Preservation, said: “It was always an evening show but now it’s so popular vehicles turn up during the day to get a prime spot and they just keep coming and coming.

"It's literally history on the move, where visitors can take a close up look at the vehicles of yesteryear. Youngsters can get to know how lorries, cars and bikes were in bygone years and the older generation can reflect on the vehicles of their youth.”

Warminster retired builder Ivor Mitchell brought a rare 1924 Francis Barnett Motor Cycle to the show, along with his another in his collection a Triumph Tiger Cub, while local motorcycle enthusiast Brian Rogers brought to the show one of his Italian made Moto Gazzi’s.

Also taking time to natter were petrol head cousins Nigel Spencer and Roger Brunt, from Southwick. Nigel, who races a Lotus Six, brought an original Ford van that was used at the famous Brookland track and nattered to Roger, who won the recent Sprint championship.

Two Trowbridge classic car enthusiasts spoke of how their interest in old cars began. Brothers John and Steve Gardner were brought up at a scrapyard business in Drynham Lane.

John said: "Now years later we are able to restore old cars like what we saw brought in for scrap! We have bought a couple of classic cars for keepsakes and to renovate them.”