Bruce keeps on trucking

Bruce Parker has been collecting the kings of the road for a decade now at the rate of more than one a year and painstakingly bringing them back to pristine condition.

Bruce, of Bridge Farm, Coven Heath near Wolverhampton, will transport four truck units to join more than 1,000 exhibits ranging from cars and buses to motorbikes and tractors at this year's Llandudno Transport Festival.

These include a Leyland Comet truck unit from 1953. Bruce, who owns metal recycling business Walsall Iron and Steel in Walsall, says his collection stems from a childhood interest.

"My dad was always in haulage and it has stuck with me since I was a kid," he said.

"It's only over the last 10 years that I've been collecting them because I was mainly involved with classic cars before that, but I've now got about 11 trucks."

Among the other trucks in the collection are a Volvo Transit Pick-Up, Volvo F86 and F12. Bruce exhibits at several of the bigger shows and enjoys the atmosphere at Llandudno. "It's really a good weekend out," he said.

The festival, now in its 14th year, runs for three days between May 5-7. Exhibitors and transport enthusiasts travel from all over Britain to the spectacle.

As well as street parades on the Sunday and Monday and evening road runs to Conwy and the Great Orme, there are also the seafront showgrounds at Bodafon Fields to visit and chances to admire the huge variety of lovingly-restored vehicles on display.

Admission prices to the transport festival are £4.50 for adults, £4 concessions and £1 for children.