HUNDREDS of vehicles are set to descend on Sandbach at the end of the month making this year's Festival of Transport the biggest since it began.

This year's festival has agriculture as its theme and more than 220 vehicles are expected to take part on Sunday April 20.

The event will include a high presence of tractors, from a 1906 Showman's Tractor to the latest in agricultural vehicle design.

There will also be a display by the National Farmers Union, and examples of old and new milk collection transport and farm supplies vehicles.

Miniature and full size steamers will be featured, including a 1917 Showman's road locomotive, originally built for Russian use as a gun haulier weighing in at 20 tons.

Among the rare and vintage cars on show will be a 1935 Buick Club Sedan, two seldom seen Austin A90 Atlantics, and a 1972 Porsche Spyder, one of only 180 in Europe. A number of other historical names will be on view, such as two 1930's Albions, 1930's Leylands, Scammell, Thornycroft, and Diamond 'T'.

ERF and Foden are represented by 21 vehicles, all produced in Sandbach, dating from 1932 to the very latest from the production lines.

This year's parade through the town will feature 150 vehicles, including several horse drawn carriages, and a selection of both British and American transport from the Second World War.

Vehicles are scheduled to assemble on Scotch Common and Little Common between 10 am and 12 pm.

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