Plans were unveiled today to stage a massive new festival for transport enthusiasts in Shropshire with more than 500 vehicles set to go on show.

It is hoped thousands of people will flock to the new Shropshire Festival of Transport when it is held at the West Mid Showground for the first time next summer.

Organisers are looking at two weekends, August 7 and 8 or August 14 and 15 next year, for the one-day event which if successful would become a two-day festival.

Ken Williams, chairman of the Shropshire branch of the Jaguar enthusiasts club, said it had been decided to stage a festival because many events excluded post 1980 cars.

He said: “We can’t attend a lot of car shows because they are just for classic cars.

“A couple of us in the club decided to investigate putting on a festival of transport which would be open to vehicles of any age.”

He said following a meeting at the showground they would be hosting the first event there subject to confirmation of the date and costs.

“We had a good meeting with Mary Hopkins, general manager at the showground, last week and its facilities were explained and dates looked at for next year,” he said.

“The inaugural show would be either a Saturday or Sunday and would be open to all forms of transport.”

Mr Williams said there would be displays in the main arena such as dog obedience, motorcycle display teams and fire engines.

He said: “It will be a similar event to the Midland Festival of Transport which is held at Weston Park. It would be open to the general public.”

He added displays would include steam rally vehicles, classic cars, military and heavy goods vehicles.