A COLLECTION of Aston Martins from through the decades were paraded through Farsley to celebrate the car firm's relationship with the community.

A group of 25 of the luxury vehicles from members of the Yorkshire branch of the Aston Martin Owners' Club from the 1920s to the present day met up at Farsley AFC, Throstle Nest, to take part in the event.

The cars, including Aston Martin DB7s, DB9s, DB7 Vantage and a DBS from 1963, then went on a parade, led by three David Brown tractors, which were also made in Farsley, ending up in Sunny Bank Mills.

In 1947, David Brown saw a classified advertisement in The Times newspaper, offering for sale a High Class Motor Business.

Brown acquired Aston Martin for £20,500 and, in the following year, Lagonda for £52,500, followed by the coachbuilder Tickford in 1955. He subsequently concentrated all the Aston Martin manufacturing at the Tickford premises in Newport Pagnell. The Brown years led to the legendary DB series of Aston Martins.

Brown's main manufacturing plant was in Huddersfield, but they also had a factory in Newlands, Farsley during the 1950s, prompting the Aston Martin Owners' Club to pay homage to the company's past.

From 1950, Farsley became the main production centre for what became known as the LB6 engine, which was used on the then new DB2 car.

The legendary 'DB' series of Aston Martin cars, including the Atom, the DB2, the DB3, the DB4, the DB5, famously driven by James Bond, the DB6, the DB7, DB9 and the DBS were named after Brown using his initials.

Both car companies were sold in 1972 to Company Developments Limited, when Aston Martin was in financial trouble, for just £100.

Edward Priestley, 78, of Huddersfield who worked at the David Brown factory in Farsley as an apprentice between 1953 and 1956 who attended Saturday's parade, said: "It's very nostalgic.

"I did not work on the Aston Martins in the factory myself, but I got to see them being made."

Peter Skitt, joint assistant area representative for the Yorkshire branch of the Aston Martin Owners Club, said: "It was a good day.

"It proves that not all Aston Martins were built down south, they were built in Farsley too."

John Procter, event organiser, said: "It's tremendous, this event has just grown and grown.

"We try to do things to raise the profile of Farsley.

"It was great that we could have a reunion of people who worked in the factory in the 1950s. It was great that they could come along with their cars and go for a parade in Farsley. We're talking about having the same event next year and maybe making it an annual event."