A record 110 cars, vans, bikes and scooters went to the beach on Sunday for Sheppey's annual classic motor show by the sea.

Organiser Paul Weeks, who runs the Sweet Hut on Minster Leas with his wife Nina, said: "It was our best yet. The weather was perfect."

Cars ranged from a giant American Cadillac straddling the promenade to a tiny Messerschmitt "bubble" car which, despite its diminutive size, proved to be one of the biggest draws.

Mr Weeks also had some of his own vehicles on show including a vintage motorcycle with a wicker side-car and a 1919 French-built De Dion Bouton which he has spent the past 18 months renovating. It was only its second public outing.

Another top attraction was a 1947 Daimler limousine which was given to Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip as a wedding present by the RAF. The car, driven by Tom Lambkin of Eastchurch, boasted a colour photo of the Queen in the back seat, which turned heads.

But the star of the show was a 1928 white Austin owned by Sittingbourne collector Barry Lowdell, 75, from Tunstall. It was his first visit to Sheppey with the car.

The 12-horse power Clifton open-tourer, which has a temperature gauge on the front of the bonnet to warn the driver of overheating, won the trophy for the vehicle the judges would most like to take home.

It was originally made in Australia under licence and then shipped to Britain.

Mr Lowdell, who believes it was used by Britain's diplomatic corps, discovered it gathering dust in London and stripped it back to its original paintwork.

He admitted: "It takes a lot to drive. You have to double-declutch to change gear and you have to stand hard on the brakes to stop as they are all cable controlled."

Meanwhile, there was a chance for the public to pick up a bargain. A renovated 1961 Mini with only 55,000 miles on the clock was going for £15,000.

There were craft stalls, a parade of vintage prams sporting lifelike dummy babies and rockabilly entertainment from Lewis Ellen.