COLLECTOR Stephen Johns raised a few eyebrows on the M5 as he transported a 1943 25-pounder gun down the slow lane last weekend. And the retired pyjama manufacturer, who launched the Exmoor Classic Car Collection in Minehead three years ago, even managed to remain calm when eagle eyed police stopped him to point out that the World War Two equipment was not displaying the necessary reflective lights. Ever inventive, Stephen and his accomplices, father and son Clifford and Brendan Frost, stopped at the next service station and created the obligatory light using a traffic cone. The trio were returning from taking part in the London to Brighton Commercial Vehicle Run, which they completed in six hours - the final two of which were taken crawling the final five miles of the 57- mile journey through bank holiday weekend gridlocked Brighton. "Apart from that we had a great time," said Stephen yesterday (Thursday). The friends towed the gun in a 1980 Series Three Land Rover, which has a unique history of its own. The vehicle is one of a limited number used to tow similar 25-pounders to the Tower of London to fire the Royal salute on special occasions. "They were retired from service about ten years ago and I was lucky enough to get hold of one," said Stephen, who has been a collector for the last 40 years. "It's the second year running that I have taken part in the London to Brighton run - last year I did it in a breakdown truck. "It's a long day but great fun." The Exmoor Classic Car Collection is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 11am to 4pm, until September. Photo: Steve Guscott.
