Barrow's Festival of Transport welcomes hundreds of vehicles

The Festival of Transport took place throughout Barrow town centre on Saturday (July 19) offering visitors the opportunity to see and learn about a wide range of vehicles.

Cars of all varieties - classic, vintage, prestige, modern and vehicles of interest - were located on Dalton Road and Portland Walk plus electric vehicles and bicycles on Scott Street.

One of the cars on display (Image: Filipa Gaspar, Newsquest)

The event also attracted other vehicles including scooters, buses, campers, trucks, commercial and emergency which were located in various areas of the town.

More than 200 exhibitors registered their vehicles including John Thomason, from Ulverston, who has participated three times in the event.

Mr Thomason with his motorcycle (Image: Filipa Gaspar, Newsquest) Mr Thomason displayed a Norton ES2 500cc 1953, which he restored in 2007.

He said: "It is good for the town. It is what you do where you meet fellow-minded people - it is like a meet-up place."

A replica of the Ford GT40 was also at the event. The car was built by Anita Sherrington's husband who saved up for 25 years to have enough money to create it.

​"It is not a kit car in the sense that it is not based on any other car - it is a brand new GT40. It is just not built by Ford," explained Anita.

Ford GT40 replica (Image: Filipa Gaspar, Newsquest) "We drive it everywhere. It does not go on a trailer, it does not stay in the garage all the time. It has been on the road for four years and we have done 16,000 miles.

"He has built it to drive on the road and to enjoy. We have been on some race tracks. Last year we drove to Le Mans for the centenary and we went around the full 24-hour race circuit in this car."

Ash Holroyd, of Coffee D'ash on Portland Walk, praised the boost the event brings to the local economy.

Ash Holroyd at the event (Image: Filipa Gaspar, Newsquest) He said: "It brings a lot of footfall into the town. It is great exposure for myself and other businesses in the area. BID do their best to make sure that they include as many businesses as they can.

"The BID and all the team have been doing a fantastic job."

Paul Hodgson, the manager of organisers Barrow Business Improvement District, said he saw a 'good turnout' with a large number of people and families coming to the town centre.

Paul Hodgson outside the Town Hall (Image: Filipa Gaspar, Newsquest)

He said: "It has become very much a headline event for us. Alongside Dino Day and the Soapbox - this is the other thing that people know us for. It is very well-attended and attracts a very wide range of audience members for it."

The show finished at 4.30pm when all the vehicles left from the top of Dalton Road and went on a procession around the town centre.