THE throb of seven Ferrari engines could be heard across Dorset and the New Forest yesterday as Chris Evans and his lucky chums rolled into town.

The Chris Evans Drive and Dine Magnificent Seven saw seven lucky drivers and guests get the chance to take seven vintage Ferraris for a spin in the local countryside, stopping off to see Lord Bath as well as visiting Monkey World during the first leg of the four-day trip.

Although all the cars used to be part of Chris’s own collection he recently had to sell three to pay for his latest purchase, a £12million 1963 Ferrari 250 GT, which was not among yesterday’s line-up.

The collection that pulled onto the croquet lawn at the Chewton Glen hotel in New Milton included the 1964 Ferrari 250 Lusso, the 1971 Ferrari Dino, the 1957 Ferrari Testarossa Recreation along with the record-breaking James Coburn 1961 Ferrari 250 California Spyder, which costs more than £5million.

The event has raised more than £500,000 pounds for Children in Need.

Yesterday’s drive included a brief stop at Monkey World in Wool where Chris christened one of the park’s latest arrivals.

Monkey World owner Dr Alison Cronin said: “Chris was here to name one of our incredibly endangered woolly monkeys, a boy called Enzo.

“It was a fantastic day. We were really pleased on two accounts - first of all it was fantastic to see Chris Evans and the amazing stable of cars he brought down here; secondly the event was for Children in Need and at Monkey World one of our primary missions is to support families.”

At the plush New Forest hotel, Chris said: “Last year I was nervous about strangers driving my cars but this year it’s not so bad because I don’t own all of them!

“It’s been a fantastic day. I didn’t think it could get any better than last year but it has.”

He was also presented with an award from New Forest Tourism making him an honorary ambassador for the area.