DESPITE high winds and heavy rain, a cavalcade of a dozen vintage cars made its way from Devizes to Chirton to celebrate the 100th anniversary of retired car dealer Tom Fussell's 1904 Peugeot two-seater.

Shrugging off minor problems like wheels falling off and engines becoming waterlogged, the cars made their stately way from Fussell Wadman's garage in London Road, through Devizes, and along the A342 to the Wiltshire Yeoman pub in Chirton at 11am on Sunday.

Mr Fussell, the former managing director of the local car dealership, acquired the vintage car in 1983 and restored it to its present mint condition. Since then, the vehicle has covered thousands of miles, completed numerous London-to-Brighton veteran car runs, taken part in rallies in France, Switzerland and Germany, as well as scores of events in this country.

To celebrate the vehicle's 100th birthday, Mr Fussell invited fellow vintage car enthusiasts from all over the south of England to the celebration lunch at the Wiltshire Yeoman where the Peugeot was toasted and a birthday cake cut in its honour.

Instead of candles for the cake, the car's brass oil lamps were lit and ceremoniously extinguished.

Vintage car owners joining the rally came from as far afield as Hitchin, Herts; Torquay, Devon; Lymington, Hants and Chew Valley, Somerset.