THIS year’s Classic Car Day again smashed previous records and attracted more than 800 exhibitors, raising more than £8,600 along the way.

Held at The Deer’s Hut pub in Griggs Green in June, and now in its 31st year, proceeds benefited a number of groups, including Scouts, Cubs and Girl Guides, as well as Liphook Day Centre and the Heritage Centre, plus the Hampshire Firefighters Fund.

The cheque presentation took place on a gloriously sunny afternoon in front of a 70-year-old, two-tone Mark IV Jaguar owned by Paul Johnson (which had been rescued from a Bordon yard in 1972) – before the fire crew were called away to an accident at the Longmoor exit of the A3.

After returning from their emergency call out, fire chief Craig Morgan said: “We are always on standby but really understaffed at the moment and are looking for more people to come and join the service as retained crew.

“Thankfully the accident we attended was not fatal. A car had overturned on its roof and we managed to get there before any of the other emergency services came along.”

Val Gaskins represented the Heritage Centre, Paul Robinson the day centre, Alison and Brian Jackson the Scouts, Trevor Holden the Cubs, Victoria Ling the Girl Guides, Ian Smith attended on behalf of estate agents Clark Gammon Wellers, the sponsors, while pub managing director Debbie Steel presented the cheques.

The Scouts and Cubs will put the money toward replacing a minibus, the Guides need new camping equipment, the Heritage Centre are looking at financing equipment towards an oral history project, while the day centre needs to replace its industrial dishwasher.

Debbie Steel said: “I would again like to thank everyone who gave their time in helping us on the day.

“We could not have made it happen without the Scouts, Cubs and Girl Guides who barbecued hundreds of burgers throughout the day and were instrumental in parking all cars safely and efficiently.

“There was a real feelgood factor all day long and the event again managed to raise a substantial amount of money for local organisations.”