MEET Dolly, Lucy and Daisy. The ‘girls’ may be in their thirties now, but they are still very much stars of the show, at least as far as Martin and Karen Maltas are concerned.

In the small village of Biggin, south of York, they are being fussed over as usual. A photographer is taking their pictures in the winter sunshine, and Martin and Karen are on hand to make sure they look their best.

Martin throws a bucket of water over Dolly, while Karen examines Daisy and Lucy for any marks that might spoil the shot.

The ‘girls’ are three quaint Commer camper vans that have been lovingly restored by Martin and Karen. They are now about to earn their keep in the couple’s new venture, Yorkshire Classic Campers.

The vans are available for weekend and weekly hire, offering enthusiasts the chance to recapture the spirit of the original self-catering camping holidays of bygone days.

“We have mixed emotions about letting them out,” says Karen. “They are such a part of the family. We hope that people will appreciate them.”

The three “girls” are not the only Commer vans at the couple’s sprawling property, however. Karen reckons they now have 22, but Martin puts the number at 26 or 27.

In one part of the yard is the shell of a van that made it here all the way from the French Alps.

“I saw an advert for it on eBay,” says Martin. “It was in the middle of a wood in the French Alps, being used as a static caravan. We brought it back on a trailer.”

Elsewhere is a van from Hastings in Postal Engineering livery, and another emblazoned with 1st Elsinby Guides for an appearance in The Royal TV series. The same van made appeared in two episodes of the Red Riding TV trilogy.

Martin, 52, an award-winning housebuilder, has also collected a full set of Corgi models of Commer vans, housed in a cabinet alongside other model cars.

He and Karen, 49, met in 1998 and were married in 2001. At that time, Martin had a small collection of classic cars, including a Triumph Stag and Jaguar E-Type. Karen was also a car enthusiast, driving a Ford Popular and now she owns and cherishes a Nissan Figaro classic.

Not long after their marriage, the love affair with Commer vans began.

“I saw a magazine advert asking for someone to save one that had been converted to a TV detector van,” Martin says. “It’s a ’79 model and still in the middle of restoration.”

Such is the strength of their love affair with the vans that this year – the 50th anniversary of the Commer van – they will be holding a Commerfest at their home, attended by enthusiasts from all over the country. They have even gone so far as to rename their home Commerland. Now that’s devotion.

• For more information visit yorkshireclassiccampers.co.uk email martinmaltas@clannet.co.uk or phone 01977 680954.