THE owners of a rare 1931 milk delivery car which was first registered in Herefordshire are appealing for help to discover more about its history.

David and Janet Aylmore bought the Austin 7 in 2015 and have since researched its history.

But ideally the Devon couple would like to trace the first owner so that they can have the original sign writing replaced.

Mr Aylmore said: "Having been built as a commercial vehicle from new, it would most likely have been purchased by a dairy or farmer and used for local milk deliveries.

"From our research so far, it would appear unlikely that it was used in the city of Hereford itself as locally based, long standing city dairymen tell us that all Hereford milk deliveries were being done with horse and cart well into the 1940s.

"From enquiries of delivery companies in other parts of the country, the best guess is that the car may well have been used in a more rural area where there would have been longer distances between houses, thus making a motor vehicle more of a viable option.

"The car cost £125 when new so would have been a considerable capital outlay for any business at that time, especially with the depression in the early 1930s and the introduction of motorised deliveries would no doubt have caused quite some interest in those days as well."

It is one of two Austin 7s Mr Alymore owns and he regularly takes it to shows.

He said: "It was restored by a great friend of mine called Ralph Villis who lived in Paignton. He passed away in 2014. The family decided to sell the car early in 2015.

"I wasn't looking for another car but it is such a rare one I couldn't pass on the opportunity."

The signwriting currently says Cream Cracker which is a nickname which Mr Villis gave the car.

Mr and Mrs Aylmore looked at Hereford Times newspapers from the 1930s at the Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre but could not find any reference to the car.

They are showing the car at both Tenbury Show on Saturday and Herefordshire Country Fair on Sunday.

Mr Aylmore said: "We hope it may jog some memories and would very much like to meet up with anyone whose family were involved in the milk delivery business in the 1930s."

The car was first registered with the number VJ 3656. If you have any details which could help Mr Alymore email davidaylmore@hotmail.com or call 07850 581322.