PETROLHEADS from across the country are expected to descend on Padiham later this month.

The Cooper Mini Day will be held at Mini Sport, in Thompson Street, from 9am until 3pm on Saturday, March 28.

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The event will act as ‘an exclusive celebration of all things Mini, Cooper, and Mini Sport,’ organisers said.

Mike Cooper, the son of Cooper Car Company co-founder John Cooper, is expected to make a guest appearance at the event.

And a host of iconic and illustrious cars will also be on display.

A spokesman for the company said: “2015 has kicked off with a bang and with all the events, projects and competition, we at Mini Sport have been involved in over the last few months.

“We find it hard to believe we’re only in March.

“We decided it was time the Cooper Mini Day event was officially launched, a humble festival for all Mini enthusiasts to rejoice in all things Mini, Cooper and Mini Sport.

“The event will attract Mini Clubs, registers and enthusiasts from across the UK and will be covered by Mini Magazine.”

Cars on display will include an exact replica of 1964 Monte Carlo winner Paddy Hopkirk’s, performance-built car ‘Bogus’, Sir Jackie Stewart’s Copper T72, a MK1 Cooper S restoration and a range of classic and contemporary rally cars.

The spokesman said: “Earlier in the year three members of the Rover Mini Cooper Sport 500/2000 Register contacted us with an exciting prospect, to convert three Mini Cooper 500s with Cooper tuning kits to improve performance in the iconic Mini models.

“Following the forecast of this conversion project, the news followed that Mike Cooper of the Cooper Car Company and the Mini Cooper legacy was to attend the release of the converted cars and hand-over the newly-converted Minis to their passionate owners.

“For now we urge you to spread the word, put the March 28 in your diary and get on down to Mini Sport for 9am to experience the full potential of the first ever ‘Cooper Mini Day’ at Mini Sport with guest appearance from Mike Cooper.”