Forty classic cars from Britain, Germany and Italy travelled through Falmouth on Sunday as part of a journey covering more than 1,600 miles across Europe.

As part of the trip they stopped in Events Square for an hour and during that time people were able to see the cars, speak to their owners and donate money to charity. Pendennis Brass also played.

The Victory Grand Tour Cape to Cape - the latest in a series of rallies organised by Dennis Greenslade of Carnon Downs over the last 15 years - aimed to raise money and awareness for Macmillan Cancer Support, by travelling from Cape Trafalgar in south west Spain to Cape Cornwall near St Just.

Mr Greenslade told the Packet: "It was hugely successful. I'm very pleased with the reception that we had all along the way and that we got in Events Square; we had a lot of interest."

It was also one of the toughest, however, with many of the old cars having to travel an extra 700 odd miles through France to even get to the start line, due to a ferry fire putting the Plymouth to Santander crossing out of action.

The vehicles, some of which are 50 years old, also struggled in heat that reached 34 degrees centigrade at times, while others found brakes failing coming down the mountains 9,000 feet above sea level.

By the time they arrived in Falmouth the cars had driven along the Spanish-Portuguese boarder to Bilbao, to catch a ferry to Portsmouth.

After visiting HMS Victory they then kept closely to the Trafalgar Way - the name given to the historic route used to carry news overland of Nelson’s exploits in the Battle of Trafalgar, from the packet ships in Falmouth to the Admiralty in London.

At Events Square there was an appearance from 'Lieutenant Lapenotière,' the British Royal Navy officer who carried the news of the death of Admiral Nelson to Britain.

He was presented with a bottle of 30-year-old sherry, while Falmouth mayor Grenville Chappel was presented a 50-year-old bottle of sherry, given to the charity cavalcade in Spain to carry with them to Cornwall.

While the event was designed to be enjoyable, it was also a race and fiercely competitive – with any penalties incurred turned into fines. It was designed to challenge navigational and driving skills, and includes secret checks.

Entrants paid all their own costs and expenses for the event, with fundraising, donations and fines from penalties going to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Former international rally driver Mr Greenslade organised the first event – this time from Cape Cornwall to Cape Wrath in the Scottish Highlands - in 2004.

His love of motor cars and motor sport, fascination with maps and experience of rallying led to organising what has now become one of the toughest classic car tours in Europe.

The first event raised £32,000 and up to date has amassed £770,000. This year has already raised a minimum of £87,834 to add to that total - more money raised by one event than ever before.

The Tricia Greenslade Trophy, in memory of Mr Greenslade's late wife, was won for a third time by Terry Bolt and Jeffrey Hearn of Callington for raising the most money.