Thousands of Mini enthusiasts took to the roads today to celebrate Mini's 50th anniversary.

More than 2,500 brightly coloured Minis made the pilgrimage to the coast in the London to Brighton run.

The annual run is now in its 46th year but this year was extra special for the organisers and participants who were celebrating 50 years since the first Mini rolled off the factory production line.

Owners proudly showed off their cars and, in what seemed like a history lesson of the classic car, made famous by 1969 film, The Italian Job, starring Michael Caine, all models from classics to variants to the new BMW Minis, were on display.