The Road Club, a group of coach driving enthusiasts which includes members of the household cavalry, were aboard the 19th century Essex-based coach, Nimrod, which was drawn by a team of four greys from Heacham to Burnham Market.

The traffic-stopping sight also had a serious side as it was being used to raise funds for charities supporting soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The horses were harnessed at Norfolk Lavender's Caley Mill at 8am before setting off on the journey dubbed The Lavender Run.

The route along the old Roman Road was used by the Count of the Saxon Shore to move his Dalmatian Cavalry to keep off invaders.

"The link between lavender and the household cavalry is age-old," said Norfolk Lavender spokesman Henry Head. He said Army doctors at the time of the ancient Romans used lavender oil as an antiseptic and this practice was continued by Florence Nightingale in the Crimean War and in the trenches in the First World War when forward dressing stations ran out of more conventional antiseptics.

"This was a wonderful opportunity to see a beautifully turned-out complete stage coach team with all its gleaming harness and splendid equipment," Mr Head said.

Norfolk Lavender gave 50p to the effort from every cup of tea or coffee served at its premises between 8am and 11am that day.