AIRCRAFT and classic cars vied for attention at a north Hampshire airfield on bank holiday Monday.

Dozens of aircraft flew in and hundreds of special cars turned out for the Aero and Auto Jumble, Classic Car Rally and Fly-In at Popham Airfield.

And an estimated 5,000 people turned up to see them.

Airfield manager Dick Richardson said aircraft numbers were slightly down because the wind was quite strong, but he said the event was successful.

He said: “It’s as good as it’s ever been.”

The pilots were also happy. Gyrocopter pilot Clive Rose, 51, from Oldfield View, Hartley Wintney, said: “It’s blustery, but nice.”

On the other side of the airfield from the aircraft, classic cars, vans and lorries from the 1920s to the 1980s made an impressive display.

Steve Hallam, from Basingstoke Classic Car Club, said 850 vehicles were booked to attend.

The vehicles ranged from vintage Austin A7s to 1970s Ford Capris and from English legends, such as the Jaguar E-Type, to American muscle cars like the Dodge Charger.

A star of the show was a 1930 Bentley Speed Six – the same type that won Le Mans in 1929 and 1930.

Owner Robert Hickman, 74, of Andover, who has driven his vehicle in Australia, New Zealand, Jordan, South Africa and America, said: “It will cruise at 90 miles per hour today. It’s wonderful.”

Elsewhere about 140 traders were selling a vast array of parts and jumble, from exhaust pipes and aircraft instruments to model cars and children’s clothes.

Earlier in the weekend, the airfield hosted a Microlight Trade Fair.

There was also a touch of drama on Saturday when an Aeroprakt A22 Foxbat microlight, carrying a man and his wife, landed too heavily, causing the undercarriage to collapse, damaging the wing, propeller and engine.

Airfield volunteer Don Binks said: “The people walked out. There were no injuries.”