Prince Michael of Kent was among hundreds of veteran car lovers who braved the weather for the annual London to Brighton car run.

The first vehicle to complete the 57-mile journey, a 1902 Panhard et Levassor from North Yorkshire, arrived at Preston Park just after 11am, three hours after leaving Hyde Park Corner.

Prince Michael, who is president of the Royal Automobile Club, had a trouble-free run driving the Club's 1904 Mors.

He said: "We had a terrific run. All the people were out waving and clapping along the route. There was a tremendous atmosphere."

The veteran car run dates back to 1896 when, on Saturday, November 14, the Emancipation Run from London to Brighton was held to celebrate the passing into law of the Locomotives on the Highway Act.

The new law raised the speed limit for cars from four to 14 miles per hour and abolished the requirement for a man on foot to walk in front of vehicles and wave a red flag.

Only 14 of the 33 starters reached Brighton that day but this year almost all the 450 cars, which are at least 95 years old, made it to Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront.

Most arrived in Brighton before it started to rain, although a few had to be pushed the last few miles or stop for repairs along the way.

Robin Loder, of Leonardslee, near Horsham, drove his 1898 Fisson down from London.

He said: "It is a delicious car to drive and the run was terrific. The worst bit was Westminster Bridge, which I have renamed Pothole Bridge because there are so many holes in the road."

Former Beirut hostage Terry Waite, 61, was a passenger in the 1902 Panhard et Levassor Tonneau driven by Edwin Boorman.

Mr Waite said: "I think the journey was much better than the train, although we took it fairly slowly up the hills because the car was carrying six people and I weigh 19 stone."

The world's oldest self-propelled working road vehicle, the Grenville Steam Carriage built in 1875, started the run at the front and surpassed all expectations when it made it to Brighton.

Owned by the Bristol Industrial Museum, it weighs more than two tonnes and was driven by curator Andy King.