THOUSANDS of visitors flocked to Shelsley Walsh today for the hillclimb championship.

The two-day event, which marked the 60th anniversary of the British Hillclimb Championship, attracted about 7,000 spectators.

Roger Thomas, secretary of the Midland Automobile Club, said: "It's been brilliant. Everybody seems to have had a really good time.

"We've had a lot of families here.

"It's gone very well and has probably been the best crowd this year.

"We've had a reception for some of the old hillclimb champions, who took part in a parade.

"It's probably been the best day we've had since the centenary in 2005."

Mr Thomas said one of the highlights of the highlights of the weekend was seeing Martin Groves, of Banbury win the championship, setting a new course record of 22.82 seconds.

There were special classes, with one for past champions, two for historic hillclimb cars, one for pre-1939 models and one for post World War Two vehicles.

Practice for the event was on Saturday, with the two top twelve run-offs taking place today.

All eyes turned away from the course and to the skies for an aerial Spitfire display.

The hillclimb took place later in the season because August's meeting was cancelled because of damage caused as a result of the summer's floods.

Shelsley Walsh is the oldest motorsport venue in the world that is still in use, with 102 years of speed hillclimbing history.