MINIS filed out of the Cowley car plant and headed to the home of a motoring magnate.

The convoy, organised by Mini enthusiast Tanya Field, travelled through South Oxfordshire to Nuffield Place near Henley on Monday.

Drivers brought along 10 cars to take part, to coincide with the reopening of the National Trust-run property to the public.

Nuffield Place is open to visitors but not during winter, and the convoy has been staged annually for the past seven years to mark the start of the season.

The drivers were waved off at the Mini plant by Kevin Minns, the great, great nephew of Lord Nuffield, who founded Morris Motors and used to live at Nuffield Place.

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Mr Minns said: "Nuffield Place is wonderful and this is a great way of opening to the public each year.

"Lord Nuffield is just the most extraordinary man who has lived in Oxford as far as I’m concerned."

Mrs Field said: "It’s an honour to be involved with the convoy from Mini Plant Oxford to Nuffield Place to celebrate the opening of their new season.

"It’s important to keep the link between motor manufacturing and Cowley and Lord Nuffield alive, and there is no better way to do that than with a convoy of cars."

Cars included the Morris, Wolseley, Riley and MG marques, all associated with Lord Nuffield.

They left the plant at 9.30am and were welcomed at Nuffield Place by staff, volunteers and visitors eager to see the vehicles and chat to the owners.