THE first day of the Bournemouth Wheels Festival has been hailed a huge success - with thousands of visitors packing out the town.

READ our day one live blog here

It was standing room only along sections of the East Overcliff Drive demonstration straight, where petrolheads watched display after display of historic motors, motorcycles and top-of-the range super cars.

Festival director Jon Weaver, said: "It has been the best first day for the third year of Bournemouth Wheels Festival.

"The weather has been kind so far and there are lots of families enjoying racing, stunts and demonstrations from festival favourites, the monster trucks and Paul Swift as well as brand new Wheels participants BXUK Championships which have been a really exciting addition to the programme.

"We hope to see lots of residents and visitors tomorrow.

"Saturday features the most content of all the days - it is going to be a super Saturday"

Earlier in the day, Kim Leachman drove the Daily Echo team to the event in his prized 1933 Austin 7, called Angelika.

Kim explained: "I've owned her for about 18 years. I bought her for £3,750 from a guy who was a member of the Austin 7 Club."

Now Kim's Austin 7 is worth between £15,000 and £20,000.

However, Kim says its not about money, more about the trill of owning a piece of motoring history.

"I was looking through the paperwork once and found it had even been given a parking ticket in London just before the outbreak of the Second World War," said Kim. "I used to own a Porsche 911, but I get more looks in this then I ever did in the Porsche."

Bournemouth Mayor Eddie Coope opened the festival next to Boscombe Pier, ahead of a parade lap by quad and dirt bike riders taking part in the BXUK Championships - a first for Wheels this year.

Opening the festival, Cllr Coope said: "Thank you all for coming down, it is a great pleasure to welcome everybody here.

"Can I say a warm welcome to all of our sponsors and partners for this, the third Wheels Festival on glorious Bournemouth Beach.

"We hope this is one of many more years to come."

Attractions this year include the Two Brothers Motorcycle Stunt Team, and a new display of motorcycle tricks and trials on the beach from the Xtreme Stunt Team.

Thanks to recent beach replenishment works, the monster trucks were able to race side-by-side for the first time.

Stunt driver Paul Swift showed off his skills on the demonstration straight - with a Italian Job-style chase sequence - and the crowds lapped up the trick riding from quad racer The Kangaroo Kid, who told the crowd he'd broken his arm during the first stunt.

If you're visiting for the first time, or need a refresher on how the festival works, check out our handy guide 

You can also find out which roads will be closed here