Hundreds of people turned out to celebrate the 200th anniversary of a family motoring business.

All aboard - Edward, Wendy and Octavia Bentall with John Parker, project leader for the Museum of Power in Langford. Picture: ADRian RUSHTON (45121-1)

Engines, cars and machinery made by Bentalls of Heybridge, were on display for all to see at the Museum of Power in Langford on Saturday.

The family-run empire, which was founded in Shropshire before the family moved to Halstead in the mid-16th century, designed agricultural machinery and cars from its base near the Chelmer and Blackwater canal in Heybridge until it was taken over by Acrow in 1961.

Its 200-year anniversary saw its more famous inventions, the 100-year-old touring car and Goldhanger Plough, on display and working examples of machinery put to work in a field near to the museum for visitors to admire.

John Parker, co-ordinator of the event, said: "It was a fantastic day which really did the anniversary justice. Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves and it was a good way for people to see just what the company was famous for."

More in today's Evening Gazette

Published Monday, September 19, 2005

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette