THE ORGANISER of a popular annual run for vintage vehicles has urged regular competitors to keep revving up for this year's event.

George Jolley said he was keen to end speculation over the future of the Beamish Safety and Reliability Run, which will take place on Sunday, June 18, for the 36th time.

The 155-mile test of endurance for vehicles aged 50-years and more, known as the Beamish Run, attracted more than 130-entrants from across the North last year.

Already this year's event has 85 competitors booked in, well ahead of the figure at this stage in previous years.

"If we get everyone who entered last year we'll end up with 160 entrants, because we've got more than 20 new ones among those who have already committed themselves.

"I understand there has been some talk about its future, but, while we've had our difficulties over the years, it is going from strength to strength."

Although the run no longer takes in Beamish Museum, where it previously started and finished, Mr Jolley has retained Beamish in the name as it has become synonymous with the event.

It now begins and ends at Riverside Park, Chester-le-Street, with a series of checkpoints in the Durham and Yorkshire dales.

The run will again feature a lunch-stop at Bainbridge, North Yorkshire, where large crowds gather to view the lovingly restored vehicles when they are parked round the village green.

One amendment to the route this year is to miss out Hamsterley Forest, in south-west Durham, which Mr Jolley blames on rising insurance costs.

The route will run parallel to the beauty spot, with the checkpoint which is usually situated in the forest now to be re-situated at the Edge Hotel, in Woodside.

Mr Jolley, a competitor for the first 25 years of the event, has helped to run the past ten, and said he will be happy to continue at the helm to ensure the run remains active.

"I know it was the highlight of my year as a competitor and there are a lot of regular entrants who feel the same, so we're happy to keep it going."

Further information is available by contacting Mr Jolley, at 12 Celtic Crescent, Cleadon Village, SR6 7R2, or on 0191-536 0929.