TRANSPORT enthusiasts can take a ride on a variety of vintage vehicles as the Dorchester Bus Rally returns this weekend.

The West Country Historic Omnibus and Transport Trust (WHOTT) will host the rally in the Top o' Town car park in Dorchester on Sunday, August 14 from 10am to 4pm.

Bus lovers will be able to take free rides on buses operating on routes around Dorchester, Poundbury and local areas. Early morning feeder buses will bring enthusiasts and the public in from some adjacent towns.

This will be the seventh Dorchester Bus Rally and will feature two veteran vehicles which haven't seen the light of day for many years.

A coach dating from 1938 that operated on the Isles of Scilly from 1952 will be unveiled by Dorchester Mayor Janet Hewitt after a 13 year long restoration project.

She will also unveil its sister bus, dating back to 1939, passed to the Civil Defence Authority and to Poole & District Model Railway Society, which has just been restored to original condition. Another first this year will be a model steam engine.

For the fifth year running there will be a link with the Hardy Society with a free coach tour of sites commemorating the 150th anniversary of the novel Under the Greenwood Tree and the centenary of the collection of poems Late Lyrics and Earlier. It will depart at 12pm with an on-board running commentary given by a local Hardy expert.

In previous years vehicles made special trips to Melbury House, an area featured in Hardy’s novel The Woodlanders, and to Egdon Heath, features recalled in Hardy’s The Return of the Native, as well as Hardy’s home at Max Gate, and Clouds Hill the home of Lawrence of Arabia. Seats are limited so free tickets will be issued on a first come first served basis.

Chairman of WHOTT, Robert Crawley, said: "This is WHOTT’s seventh Dorchester running day but we continue to be cautious. Covid remains prevalent and we recommend that face masks be worn inside vehicles and the marquee or in close proximity to other people.

"Nevertheless I am pleased to say that we have had a lot of support and enthusiasm from Dorchester Town Council, and the Hardy Society which recognises the unique connection our services have with places featured in Hardy’s novels. The event is kindly sponsored by local operator Damory, part of Go Southcoast."

A marquee will provide a covered area showing an exhibition of local memorabilia, and a stand selling books, photographs and transport ephemera. A souvenir programme describing a summary of local transport history will be on sale on the day.

Morning free bus services will run to Dorchester from some main centres. For routes and pickup times see the Facebook page @WHOTTbusmuseum or website www.busmuseum.org.uk