LARGE crowds greeted the start of a new speed hill climb season at Shelsley Walsh over the weekend.

The historic Teme Valley course is now in its 99th year and the fund to secure its future currently stands at just over half the £1million target.

Shares for sale in Shelsley Walsh Ltd are expected to grow with the launch of the new season, while video and DVD footage of the first 99 years of hill climbing are meeting a good response. The film encompasses all that is evocative of Shelsley Walsh and includes Graeme Wight Jnr's record-breaking run in June 2003.

The Shelsley Trust has also been donated a 1922 Vauxhall 30/98 Tourer by a generous owner. It will be sold in the coming months.