Families enjoyed a great day out when London’s historic trolleybuses rolled into town to mark 50 years since they retired from service.

A special exhibition at the Fulwell garage, in Wellington Road, attracted more than 12,000 visitors, including Twickenham MP Vince Cable and BBC news presenter Nicholas Owen, on Saturday, May 12.

The open day raised more than £5,000 for charities SOS!SEN and the League of Friends of Teddington Memorial Hospital.

Schools in the area also joined in the fun by taking part in an art competition and displayed their entries.

Mr Owen judged the contest and presented St James’ Primary School with first prize.

Organiser Richard Sharp said he was researching the history of High Street, in Hampton Hill, when he was inspired to put on an open day dedicated to London’s vintage buses and the iconic trolleybuses, which ran on electricity from overhead wires.

He said: “Back in October I was doing some research on the history of Hampton Hill High Street which had been widened in Edwardian times for the second tram track to be laid.

“It suddenly struck me that the trams were replaced by trolleybuses in the 1930s and that May, 2012, would be the 50th anniversary of their withdrawal. The last day of London’s trolleybus operations was Tuesday, May 8, 1962, from Fulwell depot.

“I approached London United and they were happy to host an open day at Fulwell provided that I could organise most of it.”

Mr Sharp thanked all the people from around the country who helped put on the event, including the London Transport Museum and the London Trolleybus Preservation Trust.

He added: “There are so many highlights for me. Getting London’s last trolleybus 1521 down from the East Anglia Transport Museum for her return to Fulwell, 50 years and four days since her last appearance there, must come top.”