AS Cowley car workers past and present join to celebrate the city's manufacturing heritage, one former worker has more memories than most.

Ruby Medley was one of a few faces from years gone who dropped by at the display of classic motors currently at Templars Square shopping centre.

The 94-year-old visited the centre to talk about her time at the car plant beside some of the cars made in Cowley over a 60-year period.

Enjoying the company of other motor enthusiasts, Mrs Medley, of Cardinal Close, Littlemore, recalled her time at the plant which spanned nearly 40 years, originally joining in 1941 during the Second World War when it was a munitions plant.

She said: "I used to assemble cockpit door locks and tail lead balance weights for the Tiger Moth training aircraft.

"It was a wonderful place to work and I have some great memories there.

"We always used to have a Mini from the plant when they made them. It was a lovely car.

"It's great to see this display being done and to talk about it."

Mrs Medley was one of several machinists who appeared on stage during World War Two at the New Theatre along with actors Leslie Howard, Leslie Banks and Ralph Richardson encouraging people to take up war work.

She recalled the memories at the wartime factory, which included shows in the canteen featuring stars of the time Arthur Askey and Henry Hall.

But it was a man once named "the world's greatest entertainer" Al Jolson, who sang Sonny Boy to a passing canteen lady the 94-year-old remembered fondly.

She added: "He was wonderful, he really was. It was great seeing him."

The shows were organised by ENSA, the organisation set up in 1939 to provide entertainment for British armed forces.

After the war, the factory returned to making cars and Mrs Medley worked in the Trim Shop making carpets for the Mini and Oxford cars.

She recalled when staff were stunned when they found a prankster had glued their working shoes to the floor.

The perpetrator of the stunt remained undetected for many years – until he finally admitted his guilt on TV.

The man, a worker in a neighbouring department, owned up in a letter to the BBC programme, Confessions, in 1998 and admitted on screen to presenter Simon Mayo: "I did it."

Everyday this week until Saturday, a Mini, Maestro, Morris and Montego, along with five other vintage vehicles will be on show from 8am to 6pm.

Cowley car enthusiast Tanya Field organised the event, which is now in its third year.

Mrs Field, who will be helped by some of the owners of the classic cars, have displayed brochures and photographs of the cars being built.

A large map of the plant made in the late 70s is also on display.

The 44 year-old mother-of-three, from Headington Quarry, said it was a "complete joy" to sit with the cars and talk to people about the plant, both past and present.

Mrs Field added: "It's been very busy which is great and we've had all ages who have been coming along.

"What makes it extra nice, is it hosted in a centre built for Cowley workers, which is displaying the cars made there."