More than 30 privately owned fire engines gathered at Paultons Park on Saturday to take young cancer sufferers on a 'fire engine adventure'.

Youngsters and their families rode on the fire engines on a circular trip from Paultons to Totton and back via Cadnam and before they left and, on their return, the children were treated to sirens waiting and bells clanging as the convoy was greeted by many well-wishers.

The event has been organised for 36 years with renowned fire engine preservationist, the late John McCormick, starting the first one that went through the centre of Southampton.

John’s eldest son Simon was present with one of his company’s heavy recovery vehicles.

Also joining the event was the oldest fire engine, a 1941 Leyland and there were others from the 1950s right through to the last decade.

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All have been fully restored by their owners, some of whom came long distances from Buckinghamshire, Kent, Devon and Somerset to attend.

The children and their families were given free passes to Paultons and also treated to a complementary tea provided by the complex with doughnuts donated by Mick’s Burger Bar.

Organisers were Dorset-based Wessex Fire and Rescue in conjunction with the Southampton Children’s Hospital’s Piam Brown Ward, part of an oncology and haematology centre caring for children from birth to 16 years.

Jon Bickers, who spearheaded the event for Wessex, said he was delighted with the response of the owners of the preserved fire engines.

This was echoed by Keith ‘Jethro’ Allgood, proprietor of Wessex, who stressed to the families that all the travelling costs had been born by the owners who, along with Paultons, were owed a deep debt of gratitude.