ONE of the world's most famous cars returned to its spiritual home in Kent at the weekend (Gerry Warren writes).

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang drew hundreds of visitors to Higham Park at Bridge, near Canterbury, especially children who were thrilled to see the spectacular vehicle.

It was brought to the estate by its owner Pierre Picton who drove the car in some of the 1960s film sequences and acquired it 30 years ago.

He said: "It is wonderful to bring the car to Higham Park where the creator of the story Ian Fleming had such close connections. It really is Chitty's spiritual home.

"Many of the children have, of course, seen the film or read the book and it gives me a lot of pleasure to see them so excited at actually seeing the car."

Fleming was inspired to write the book for his son by stories about Count Louis Zborowski, a millionaire racing driver who lived at Higham Park and built racing cars from 1910 to 1924.

They included several aero-engined cars called Chitty Bang Bang which had monster engines and he raced with great success until his death in a crash driving for Mercedes.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is now enjoying a revival as a West End musical which Pierre says has rekindled interest in the car that could "fly."