More than 300 people gathered at a vintage vehicle event organised by two childhood friends on Saturday.

Cambs Times: Whittlesey Classic Bus show. Picture: Steve Williams.Whittlesey Classic Bus show. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

Bus enthusiasts made their way to Whittlesey market square to see a fleet of vintage buses while there was a classic cars display in Thorney.

Visitors to the Fenland Vintage Vehicle Gathering got to check out 16 buses dating from 1932 to 1987 and go on free rides, with a Morley’s double decker service to Turves proving particularly popular.

Buses were put on so they could go between the two venues and fund-raising took place for Peterborough Soup Kitchen, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices and vehicle preservation.

The event was organised by Stephen Longmire, 22, and Nathan Merryweather, 20, both of Yaxley, who own one of the buses that was on display.

The pair bought an old London Transport 1986 Leyland Olympian bus for £2,500 and have transformed it into the colours of former Whittlesey operator Morleys, which ran services in the town for over 80 years before going out of business in 2005.

Mr Merryweather said: “We both went to school on Morley’s buses. Morley’s was such a characterful company and served the local area well for more than 80 years,

“We’ve been fascinated by anything about Morley’s, which ran a lot of London buses. Sadly, none of these survive, so this one is the next best thing.”

The two friends have run the event for the past three years - Mr Merryweather was only 18 when they put together the first edition.

He said: “We did the first one when I was just 18. We had various meetings with Fenland District Council, who talked us through how to apply, then we got to approved.

“This year there was a really good turnout, with bus enthusiasts and lots of families and children.”