A WHITCHURCH dentist had the honour of being the lead car at the 647th Lord Mayor's Show on Saturday.

The 1967 Morris Minor Trafalgar blue convertible was one of 15 cars representing the Morris Minor Owners Club in the parade through the streets of London.

Richard South, his wife Vivien and family friend Liz Kinchin sat in the decorated car and led floats, horses, motor vehicles, marching bands, carriages and the gold state coach along the two and a half mile procession.

Richard said: "The most fantastic thing about it was the weather - it was beautiful.

"We were under strict instructions to have the roof down almost regardless so we were very lucky!

"We even got a wave from Michael Oliver, the new Lord Mayor."

The car, which has been in the family for 31 years, has taken part in many classic car runs, although this is the first time Richard has been involved in the Lord Mayor's Show.

He thanked J Martin of Whitchurch, where the car is regularly serviced, adding that the car has travelled 108,000 miles without ever having the cylinder head off.