A MAJOR new motoring event is being held in the Herefordshire town of Bromyard later this year.

The featured car maker at the first Bromyard Speed Festival will be the famous Malvern-based Morgan Motor Company.

Morgan will have a major presence with specific classes dedicated to this ever popular marque, as well as a factory display in Market Square.

There will be a class for Morgan Cars through the Ages, and a separate class for Competition Morgan Cars. The company will be celebrating 80 years for the Morgan 4/4 series, a record for the longest production run for any single car model.

The festival, on Sunday, April 3, is expected to attract around 100 vintage and classic vehicles, together with a collection of motorcycles, to take part in a street parade through the town centre.

The event is being organised by Bromyard Speed Festival Community Interest Company. The organising committee has a wealth of experience in motorsport events and hopes to draw support from local clubs and businesses. The event will be free to the public.

Bromyard and its immediate locality has been linked to the British motor industry since the birth of the car. The chairmen of the Austin, Bean and Morgan car manufacturers all lived in the surrounding parishes, and automotive engineering was first started in Bromyard by the Pettifer family, who manufactured chassis components for the original Morgan Three Wheeler in 1910, prior to the building of the Malvern factory.

The area around Bromyard is also well known for motoring events such as the speed hill climbs at Shelsley Walsh, Prescott, and Chateau Impney.

The festival is supported by Herefordshire Council and Bromyard and Winslow Town Council. Created as a family- friendly street event, the festival is expected to attract around 2,500 visitors. Trade stands and motoring displays will be located around the circuit. The festival will make use of public car parks in the town centre for the participants’ paddock area.

To find out more, visit bromyardspeedfestival.co.uk.