CAR enthusiasts from Monmouth helped celebrate the Forest of Dean’s annual Carnival of Transport on Easter Monday.

The annual event, held in the centre of Coleford, celebrated its 25th anniversary with crowds flocking to the town to see a range of vehicles that included motorbikes, classic cars, vans, lorries, buses, military vehicles and small traction engines. The oldest entrant was a tractor dating back to 1919.

Among the hundreds of exhibitors were Martin Phillips from Wyesham with his 1969 Morris Cooper S, who had teamed up with the Five Valleys Mini Club.

Another exhibitor Lee Curthoys, from Trellech showed off one of the newest vehicles at the carnival, a Caterham Seven, which he began building at the end of 2022 and became road worthy by February last year. 

Lee said he had always wanted this particular car and when he was in position to buy the parts, he took the opportunity to build his teenage dream.

Alex Davies, chairman of the organising committee for the past five years, said that the attendance was greatly up on last year, but still down on pre-pandemic days.

Mr Davies said: “We’d been watching the weather forecast over the preceding few days. However the good weather and sunshine brought out the wide range of exhibitors and the crowds alike. I was impressed with the number of the older vehicles I hadn’t seen before.

“The event is more compact this year, centralising everything in the two sites. I would like to thank everyone who made today such a great success.”