WHAT are the chances of finding 10 people all living within the same square mile and each owning a Second World War jeep?

Not likely maybe, but 10 residents in Biggin Hill are the separately registered owners of jeeps that date back to the early 1940s.

The group of military vehicle enthusiasts are all members of the Invicta Military Vehicle Preservation Society (IMPS), and believe they have a world record.

Nick Cowles, secretary of the society’s Weald area branch, which covers Biggin Hill, said: “We just discovered a few weeks ago that we had 10 jeeps in one square mile.

“If we were to extend that outwards for two miles, we would be looking at maybe 14 or 15 jeeps.

“It’s pretty impressive, can anybody beat this? I don’t think they can.”

IMPS has been going for almost 30 years, and has nearly 1,000 members.

It is a club based throughout Kent, Surrey and Sussex dedicated to the preservation of historic military vehicles of all types and ages.

Members and their vehicles attend events from village fetes to memorial and remembrance days, including the Biggin Hill Air Show.

Mr Cowles, aged 50, said: “I regard my 1944 Willys jeep as an article of remembrance, a memorial and living history to all those that gave so much in the Second World War.”

Of the 10 vehicles, nine are Ford GPW and the other a Willys MB US Army jeep.

A total of around 700,000 were built between 1941 and 1945, with a maximum speed of 60mph.

Nowadays they would be worth between £8,000 and £15,000 but the first of the 10 jeeps was bought in 1968 for just £160.

Mr Cowles, a former police officer, said: “They were revolutionary vehicles, the first of the four-wheel drives.

“They’re very much the same as 4x4 cars today, the basics are still there.

“They’re the easiest to garage and maintain out of all Second World War vehicles.”

The Weald group meets the second Monday every month at 8pm in the Old Jail Pub, Jail Lane, Biggin Hill.

For information about the club visit imps.org.uk