CARS of all descriptions will take centre stage at a new community engagement event, Show and Shine, being held in Tavistock's Bedford car park on Sunday July 18, between 11am and 3pm.

The partnership event, co-ordinated by West Devon Borough Council, is designed to engage and educate drivers to promote road safety and responsible driving, and at the same time entertain the family with a whole array of car-related and safety activities.

One of the stars of the show will be Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service's Mitsubishi Evo super-car, which demonstrates how to look good and be safe. The fire service will also be using their modified Volkswagen T5 Transporter to emphasise the importance of road safety.

Car enthusiasts' club Street Stylers South West are promoting the event, and working closely with the Community Safety partnership.

They will be running the show and shine competition where anyone can enter their four-wheeled pride and joy with the opportunity of winning prizes, including an expert drivers' course, skid pan course, and signed fast and furious posters.

The police traffic department will be demonstrating how they check exhaust noise, which can contribute to nuisance problems in residential areas, and how they measure tinted windows to ensure they meet the legal safety standards.

Families will be well catered for with plenty of refreshment opportunities and entertainment for all, including a bouncy castle and a number of safety-related demonstrations.

Entry to the event is free to visitors and participation in the show and shine competition will be through a donation to the Help for Heroes charity.

With the Bedford car park given over to the event for the whole day, other parking opportunities include the nearby Wharf car park, the Guildhall car park in the town centre, and the Riverside car park, where normal Sunday parking charges will apply.

Those interested in entering the show and shine competition are asked to contact Matt Miller by emailing [email protected]">[email protected] or by registering their vehicle by 10am on the day.