A historic route change has been arranged for the start of this year's London to Brighton Veteran Car Run on November 3.

Instead of chugging straight out of the gates of Hyde Park and around Hyde Park Corner, the 400 vehicles will make a slightly shorter journey via Constitution Hill.

The cars, mostly built before the end of 1904, will then drive between Green Park and Buckingham Palace Gardens before passing Buckingham Palace.

They will then turn into Birdcage Walk before resuming the normal route to the coast via Westminster Bridge.

Special permission has been granted for park roads, normally closed on Sundays, to be opened for this year's run.

Organiser International Motor Sports (IMS), says the new route will make no difference to the time veteran cars arrive in Brighton at the end of the 57-mile drive.

The first cars are expected to reach the seafront at Madeira Drive at about 10.30am, with the majority arriving at lunchtime.

To qualify for a commemorative plaque, drivers have to arrive in Brighton by 4pm.

Chief executive of IMS Andrew Coe said: "It is a great honour for entrants to be given permission to drive along roads that are steeped in so much tradition and history.

"The roads are being opened solely to veteran cars and provide an easier drive to Westminster Bridge as well as an auspicious start to the event.

"We believe this illustrates just how much respect and support is given to the London to Brighton run.

"The new route is a very fitting start for this world-famous event.

"What better way to start than with magnificent views of London's best attractions?"

The run, which attracts up to two million spectators along the route, attracted controversy this year when traditionalists opposed to the idea of cars built in 1905 being allowed to take part threatened to stage their own run.

IMS backed down on the extension and stipulated that, in future, only cars manufactured before 1904 would be allowed to take part.

However, a handful of pre-1906 vehicles have been allowed to drive in this year's run as they had already entered.