THE British Motor Museum has announced a programme of events to mark the 60th anniversary of the Oxford-built Mini.

Special events will be held throughout the year to celebrate the iconic car, including an attempt at breaking a Guinness World Record.

Three weeks of 'Mini Madness' family activities will be held during the Easter school holidays at the Warwickshire-based museum before two special events in August.

The world record attempt will take place on August 3. Organisers are looking for more than 600 classic Minis to gather and spell out the phrase 'Mini 60'.

Eligible vehicles, which must be produced between 1959 and 2000, can include the Clubman, Clubman Estate, Countryman and Cooper range along with more obscure models like the Marcos, Moke, Scamp, Wild Goose, Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet.

This will be followed by The National Metro & Mini Show on the following day, the weekend before the International Mini Meet.

Allowing international visitors and enthusiasts to join in with a week of Mini celebrations, hundreds of models will be on display including the ‘621 AOK’, the first Mini produced in 1959 and ‘X411 JOP’ the last ever classic Mini.

Visitors will also get a chance to see the Monte Carlo Rally winning Minis of 1964, 1965 and 1967.

Tom Caren, show manager at the British Motor Museum said: “As the British Motor Museum is home to the first and last classic Minis it is only fitting for us to host several events to celebrate the milestone anniversary of this iconic car.

"We welcome owners of all classic Minis, even Mini vans and pick-ups, to be part of setting a new Guinness World Record - a fitting tribute to one of Britain’s most popular little cars”.

Mini's 60th anniversary is being marked with gusto around the country with a huge variety of events planned.

In Oxford, meet-ups will pay homage to the car while the Cowley Plant has built 500 limited edition vehicles in British racing green which are being sold for £29,990.

Silverstone Racetrack is also organising a number of races featuring classic Minis.

The Mini Electric, the start of a new generation of petrol-free vehicles, is expected to arrive later this year.