Buses dating as far back as 1934 gathered for the 18th anniversary of Warminster Vintage Bus Running Day on Sunday.

The event attracted 44 buses and recreated the 1950s, 60s, and 70s eras of bus operation in West Wiltshire by offering free rides on 21 routes.

Some buses were display only and sat in Warminster central car park, while free rides consisted of open-top town tours as well as visits to towns and villages within a 20-mile radius of Warminster.

Bob Eade, president of the organising committee, said: “These are preservationists, people who have bought buses out of service and restored them to good working order, getting them taxed, MoT’d, and back on the road.

“The furthest travelled from Coventry.

“It was an absolutely perfect day. They went as far as Salisbury, Trowbridge and Gillingham in Dorset, with short journeys including Sutton Veny, Codford and Westbury.

“We re-introduced the service to Trowbridge, which we haven’t done for nine years, and we had an open top single bus, which we haven’t had before, and it did short trips to the Army camp in Imber Road.”

During the event, Mr Eade drove a single decker, Britsol RELL dating from 1971.

“The bus I was driving was very popular,” he said.

“On a trip to Trowbridge in the afternoon I had to turn people away.

“A 1950 London Transport double decker, which did five trips to Chitterne, was the most popular vehicle of the day.”

The oldest bus celebrated its 80th anniversary this year and was a 1934 Bristol single decker.

Mr Eade added: “At any given time there were hundreds out en route and hundreds in the car park so you can never estimate the number of attendees.

“We had 550 programmes this year and by early afternoon they had all sold.

“We have never been able to sell all our programmes before.

“Last year we had the same amount printed but 100 were left.”

The profits from the programmes will go towards the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, and organisers are hoping to beat last year’s donation of £400.