CAR enthusiasts in their thousands flooded through the gates of Bicester Heritage for the final Sunday Scramble of the year.

Thousands of motorists roared through the grounds in Bicester as organisers opened up of the former World War Two Bomber Station on Sunday.

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Carrying them were a host of historic motors, plus motorbikes and pushbikes for times gone by - making it a record attendance for the event.

It ended the year on a high with more than 5,500 visitors transported back in time by the perfectly preserved backdrop at Bicester Heritage, which has been redeveloping the formerly mothballed RAF base since 2013. People were able to roam the site which has been restored to bring the historic buildings back to life.

The site, now a hub for historic motoring and aviation, also has a number of historic engineering businesses that now call Bicester Heritage home. These firms were also open on Sunday to speak with visitors.

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The traders were able to share skills and experiences with the various car owners, and many more were able to simply peruse the weird and wonderful classics that pulled up on the day.

Highlights included a pristine Ferrari 250 GT SWB, a rare Porsche 993 GT2 RS and a very original Rolls-Royce Phantom I.

The Oxfordshire Home Guard re-enactors were also present to help set the scene and could be spotted on board a historic fire engine.

Bicester Heritage managing director Dan Geoghegan said: "It was the perfect family Scramble that exemplifies the broad church that Bicester Heritage has become.

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"The range of motorcars was staggering, from the Phantom I chassis driven here to a Citroen BX GTi, all amidst the perfect backdrop and blue skies, providing an ambient hubbub for enthusiasts and neighbours alike. What a day.

"We particularly enjoyed introducing new specialists Vintage Tyres and Howson Media to thousands of enthusiasts, and also welcoming The Cylinder Club who completely filled the hangar where part of Darkest Hour was filmed."

People were also able to take to the skies in a 1930s Tiger Moth aircraft with Finest Hour Experiences and see the event from above.

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Wriggly Monkey Brewery also showcased its latest beer, aptly named ‘Super Sports’, which proved an instant hit with the crowds and a perfect accompaniment to the historic scenery.

The weather took a turn for the worse on Saturday when it poured with rain.

But the sun shone bright across the many glistening classics for the open event on Sunday.

The next Sunday Scramble will be the 'intrepid season opener’ at the start of 2019, which Bicester Heritage challenges all avid enthusiasts to kick the year off with a jaunt to former RAF base in Bicester in the depths of winter.

It will be held on Sunday, January 6.