THE Straight Mile was alive with the sights, sounds and smells of a bygone era this morning.

In defiance of the weather, classic cars gathered at the Thorn Office Centre in Rotherwas in celebration of an historic moment in motorsport history.

Held on the Straight Mile in 1923 and 1924, the Hereford Speed Trials were flying start speed trials over a half-mile stretch.

But the death knell rang for the event when, in March 1925, a car at the Kop Hillclimb event in Buckinghamshire left the course, injuring a spectator.

Governing body, the RAC, immediately took action amid increasing fears for spectator safety and motorsport on public roads was banned on April 2.

Hereford's 1925 trials, due to be held on Kings Acre Road on April 4 were thrown into jeopardy.

But last-minute negotiations between organisers and the authorities successfully granted a reprieve for the Hereford event, which took place as planned two days after the ban.

Proving they are not just fair weather machines, vehicles present this morning ranged from a stately Lagonda, a superb Alvis and a stunning Frazer Nash BMW to an unusual Swift, several nimble Austin Sevens and a quirky Tempest convertible, constructed locally by Tempest of England in Cradley.

All were equally magnificent as they roared along the Straight Mile and onwards to Kings Acre Road, the site of the last competitive motorsport event to be held on a public road in England.