Many of them were not even old enough to drive - but that didn't stop the crowds flocking to a family fun day event staged by Newtownabbey dealer Mercedes Benz Truck & Van (NI).
Mums, dads and hordes of youngsters enjoyed barbecued burgers, bouncy castles and bike displays, as well as the chance to check out the latest star of the Mercedes-Benz van range, the Vito Sport, which was launched recently.
Equally adept at transporting a growing family or a load of cargo, the Vito Sport is the perfect work and play vehicle, and makes a mockery of the old warning about not mixing business with pleasure.
Standard features include stylish alloy wheels, colour-coded bumpers and chrome side-bars, while the Vito Sport can also be specified as a Dualiner model, with a second row of seats and extra windows in the side doors, making it a perfect family vehicle which can also double as a serious load-lugger.
Power for the latest Mercedes-Benz Vito comes from a range of clean, 'green' Euro 5 engines. Not only do these offer increased outputs compared to the equivalent models they replaced, they also deliver significantly improved fuel economy and reduced exhaust emissions.
A smart Vito Sport model, resplendent in silver and black livery and fitted with an optional roof-mounted bike rack, was the centre of attraction in Mercedes-Benz Truck & Van (NI)'s smart showroom on Mallusk Road. The vehicle also played the starring role in a 'Cash on the dash' game - participants had to guess the amount of cash stuffed onto the van's dashboard, with the £500 winner's prize going to Sharon Patterson of Bangor.
Julian Brown, Mercedes-Benz Truck & Van (NI) Sales Director, declared: "More than 100 guests turned out and the event was a great success. We teamed up with radio station City Beat, who helped us to publicise the day and sent presenter Mark Lima along to meet our customers and join in the fun.
"It was great to see so many local families enjoying their time with us, but of course there was a serious side to the day too, and our Vito Sport display vehicle certainly created a buzz!"