Hundreds of motoring enthusiasts gathered for a special meet that also raised money for a worthy cause.

Hosted by tyre fitting company Treadz at their base in Lowestoft, 'Cars and Coffee' saw petrolheads from across the area come together to share their common interest.

Amid soggy weather conditions, visitors at the Phoenix Enterprise Park enjoyed a rare opportunity to see Damon Hill's old Formula 1 car, not to mention an abundance of other customised creations.

The event on Sunday, April 7, was meanwhile raising funds for Suffolk one-year-old Emily Mullen, who suffers from a range of health conditions meaning she is now classed as terminally ill.

Emily, who is completely blind, was last June given just six months to live. Her family has since been fundraising to give her the best possible quality of life, including a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disneyland which Emily is currently enjoying.

'Considering the rubbish weather we had a brilliant turnout and everybody mucked in to raise around £800 for Emily, which is not to be sniffed at,' said Treadz owner Ian Thompson.

'Emily's story really struck a chord with people at the Cars and Coffee meet, especially the families who came along. The fundraising is all about creating memories throughout the remainder of her life.'

The meet also served as an opportunity to generate interest in the park, with several units remaining unoccupied six months on from the park's opening in October last year.

Mr Thompson has previously voiced his frustration at the apparent lack of work being done by Suffolk County Council to fill the units, forcing him to find alternative ways of drumming up awareness.

'These meets are a way of putting us on the map and raising awareness because lots of people still don't realise that we or the park even exist,' added Mr Thompson.

'Some people came from as far away as Chelmsford and then there are others who live just a couple of miles away who didn't even know we are here.

'The good thing is that there are more people coming to look at the units than ever before. Word is beginning to spread but we'll definitely be holding more Cars and Coffee events in the future.'