THIS line-up of automobiles, strategically lined up outside Blackburn Town Hall, probably stopped all the traffic on King William Street.

For it was 1902, when motor cars were such a rare sight on East Lancashire's roads, they prompted excited wondering from most ordinary folk.

It is reckoned there were just 24 cars owners in Blackburn at the time and 20 of them got together to establish the Lancashire Automobile Club, today the second oldest motor club, with a continuous history, in the world.

This image marks their first ever meeting, on June 2, 116 years ago, before they set off, dressed in their finery, for a run to Clitheroe.

Membership comprised the great and the good of the town and among them here were its first president Harry Hornby, cotton magnate William Birtwistle and solicitor G Walmsley and his son Allan, who later become Judge Walmsley.

Then there was motoring pioneer Tom Burton, who had a garage in Simmons Street, while police surgeon D M Bannister also took part, on his motorised scooter.

Among their early events was a reliability trial to Carlisle, which took two days and, in 1905, a first hill climb, on Buckhow Brow, Settle, which created so much dust, the club donated three guineas to a dust suppression society.