MINI enthusiasts by the thousand from across Europe converged on a south coast resort last weekend for the biggest annual Mini run.

Members of Mini owners' clubs (MOC) not only took part in the 20th anniversary London to Brighton Mini Run but also staged club displays with cars packed in along the mile of the Madeira Drive finish on the seafront.

Organised by the London and Surrey MOC, the run began with just 200 cars in 1985 and in recent years has had to be limited to just over 2,000.

Original Minis of every hue, style, and degree of customising and tuning predominated - saloons, vans, Clubman estates, pick-ups, race and rally cars, cabriolet conversions and convertibles - but there were also some of the new BMW versions now built at Oxford.

Monty Watkins, editor of event-sponsoring Mini World magazine, said: "The event is very successful and always over-subscribed - they have to turn away about 500 every year.

"But other enthusiasts will tag along on the route or just head for Brighton, so it's impossible to say precisely how many cars there are - it's certainly the biggest annual Mini run!" Local clubs participating included the Ports-mouth & Southampton and South Preservation Society MOCs.

Events included a 'sound off' for in-car entertainment systems, concours, autotest demonstrations and a soapbox challenge.