AIR raid sirens will be heard at Athelhampton House this weekend as classic MG enthusiasts step back in time for their annual stately home picnic.

The Grade I listed Tudor building will be gaining a few hundred years in age on Sunday as the grounds are transformed into a 1940s time warp with period cars, costumes and uniforms plus a military vehicle display.

And rounding off the day will be a GI Supper (with Spam on the menu) accompanied by musical entertainment from the Swing Unlimited Big Band.

MG owners and their cars (both classic and modern) begin arriving from across the region at 10.30am, allowing an opportunity to tour the house and its award-winning grounds before events get into full swing.

Other attractions throughout the day include a double raffle, teddy-bears' picnic, a win a rocking horse competition, a quick plug change challenge as well as the chance to chat all things MG.

In the afternoon, Swing Unlimited adds a fine tuned dash of nostalgia with the first of two musical interludes at 4pm with a break for the GI Supper before they return at 6pm.

Admission for MGs is £10 per car members of the public, who are welcomed from 11am, pay the normal Athelhampton admission fee.

All proceeds are going to Dorset Scope, which has recently announced a major £10 million fund raising appeal to pay for the creation of new buildings.