Hundreds of spectators donned period dress for a weekend of nostalgia at the Goodwood racetrack.

Men in tweed jackets and RAF uniforms rubbed shoulders with women in gloves, fur coats and hats, and even children were kitted out in Fifties-style clothes.

No vehicles built after 1966 were allowed onto the racetrack, which was taken 50 years back in time for the Goodwood revival meeting.

The three-day extravaganza aimed to recreate the glory days of the famous racetrack, near Chichester, which once topped the list of places to be seen for members of the post-war elite.

It was the fourth Goodwood revival meeting organised by Lord March and one of the most successful to date with thousands of visitors and several million pounds worth of cars on display in the bright autumn sunshine.

The event was as much about nostalgia as it was about racing.

Actors posing as a Fifties' family on a day trip added to the atmosphere and friendly bobbies were on patrol to make sure there was no trouble.

Goodwood staff dressed for the occasion and many visitors also made the effort to look the part.

Inside the track, spectators watched hundreds of historic racing cars speed around the track vying for position, their drivers as determined to win today as their counterparts were 50 years ago.

There were several famous names among the drivers, including Sir Stirling Moss who teamed up with comedian Rowan Atkinson in an historic Jaguar for one of the saloon car races.

Between races, crowds strolled around the ground admiring the hundreds of vehicles on display.

Among them were 21 classic E-type Jaguars, which marked their 40th anniversary by parading in front of the crowds before being put on display.

There was also a parade and display of cars designed by the late John Cooper, who died earlier this year.

They included the 1936 Cooper Special T1, the 1947 Cooper-Triumph T4, Cooper's first road car and the 1959 Cooper-Climax T51, which was raced by Sir Stirling.

Police cars, vans and motorcycles from the post-war years were on display, along with Second World War and post-war army jeeps and trucks.

The event also included air displays by veteran planes, including Spitfires, Mustangs, a Hurricane, a Kittyhawk, and a Lancaster.

There were performances by the band of the Blues and Royals.

Spectators travelled from across Britain to visit the revival meeting, which is one of the biggest events of the year for classic car enthusiasts.

Among them were Sheila and Michael Moon, from Suffolk. Mrs Moon said: "It is very good. The weather is great and the cars are lovely.

"We are both involved with motor racing and we have an MG A.

"Coming here is a touch of nostalgia for us and it is nice to see everyone dressed up."

Tim Dunford, from Romsey in Hampshire, said: "It is fantastic. This is my first time here and I'm really enjoying it.

"I have been to other shows and seen the cars but they are always static.

"The most amazing thing about Goodwood is seeing cars racing around the track at fantastic speeds as they were originally designed to do. It is just stunning."