A FATHER and son team were treated to a VIP reception when they arrived at Westminster on Saturday as part of this year's Parliamentary Classic Car Run.

Car enthusiasts Derek Mayor and his son Lee, this year's South Ribble contenders in the Parliamentary Run, were waved off on their 238-mile drive by their MP David Borrow. Up and down the country Classic Car enthusiasts from 70 different political constituencies set off for Westminster, raising cash for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Dad Derek and his hairdressing son had a trouble-free journey from Lee's business, Thatchers, in Liverpool Old Road, Hutton.

This was the first time the pair have entered the prestigious motor car event and they had to ask special permission to enter as a father and son partnership.

Derek said: "Normally it would have been only one person from the area. This is the first time that a father and son team have ever done the run."

Volvo UK manager Derek drove a 1967 Jaguar E-Type, while Lee cruised to London in a 1985 Porsche 3.2 Carrera. And the charity champs helped to bring the total money raised on the day to more than £24,000.

Car buff Derek has been involved in Classic Cars for more than 20 years, while Lee's Porsche won the Best 911 in the North West title last year.

The trip to London took around seven hours -- almost double the time it would take a modern car -- and the pair were greeted by motor racing commentator Murray Walker.

Derek said: "The day was unbelievable. We made it down to London with no problems at all, and the atmosphere when we drove into Parliament was unbelievable.

"All the drivers had 'tea on the terrace' overlooking the River Thames, then we looked round the House of Lords, which was breathtaking. Murray Walker also gave us a memento of the day and we got a picture of him with the cars."