THE rising cost of diesel is expected to affect the turnout of heavy metal at this year's Weymouth bus rally, organisers admitted today.

With the cost of filling a tank spiralling by a third in 12 months, some bus and coach owners who usually travel from all over the country will not be attending.

Organiser Robin Woody' Woodcock said although he expects a late surge in bookings, numbers will be well down on 2007.

"It will be more about quality than quantity this year," he said.

Bus rallies in Weymouth organised by the Dorset Transport Circle used to be big events attracting thousands of enthusiasts and an impressive line-up of vehicles.

The last rally was held in 1981 but the event was resurrected last year as the Weymouth Vintage Bus Running Day.

It was such a success that another is planned for Sunday, June 22, again supported by First. The display area has been switched to the Weymouth College car park in Cranford Avenue but there will be a small line-up at the Pavilion.

Buses will operate to the Nothe Fort, Bowleaze Cove and Portland Bill.

Mr Woodcock said: "We've got four weeks to go and I anticipate some late bookings, but I think we'll be hard pushed to get 40 vehicles.

"We had 75 last year although admittedly some of those were Royal Blues which were on a special run.

"I would put the drop in numbers down to the financial climate. Last year diesel was under £1 a litre and now it's £1.29.

"The big organisations are able to soak that up but your small-time enthusiast will struggle.

"I spoke to a chap in Birmingham who wanted to come down but he did his sums and just couldn't make it work and that's a shame."

Mr Woodcock said a Bristol RE bus which was the star of last year's show will be returning. Other highlights include a 40-year-old Bedford bus which used to take children to school in Dorset, a 1929 Dennis Toast Rack,' a Devon General bus coloured maroon and cream which used to work in Weymouth and a 1948 Bristol L5G which has attended every Weymouth bus rally since 1971.

Mr Woodcock will be displaying a Volvo B10M which was given to him free by Bluebird Coaches.