Thousands in city for car festival

John Bray,BBC News, Coventryand
Clare Lissaman,BBC News, West Midlands
News imageBBC Vehicles on ring road BBC
Spectators saw vehicles from many decades in timed sprints as well as on display

Thousands of people turned out to see an annual festival of classic and modern performance cars.

More than 200,000 people were expected to attend Motofest Coventry, which is marking its 10th anniversary, over the weekend.

Hundreds of people lined the city's ring road to watch cars take part in timed sprints.

Vehicles were also displayed around the Lady Godiva statue in Broadgate while dozens of motorcycles were parked outside Coventry Transport Museum.

News imageCars on display at this year's event
Coventry Motofest in celebrating its 10th anniversary
News imageCar in Coventry Motofest
The event celebrates both classic and modern cars

Visitors could also try out racing simulators, go karting, and a giant Scalextric track as well as visit static displays around the city centre and watch drift racing in the White Street car park.

James Noble, festival director, said the event attracted people from around the country and had been successful because the city had "embraced" it.

“For our 10-year anniversary, Motofest Coventry is celebrating with its biggest ever entertainment programme, with a non-stop cultural celebration of the city’s motoring past, present and future," he said.

Organisers, who worked with the city council and Coventry Business Improvement District (BID) said Motofest was expected to bring about £10m to the economy.

News imageVehicle at Coventry Motofest
The event attracts people from around the country, say organisers