Tractor run for farmers' mental health charity

Participants decorated their tractors in a Halloween theme

Over 30 tractors joined a “spooky” run of the roads around Royal Wootton Basset to raise funds for a farmers’ mental health charity.

Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group organised Sunday's event in aid of the Yellow Wellies charity.

Club chairman Jamie Davies said the aim was to spread a little joy but also to remind people that “it’s a difficult world out there for farmers”.

Mr Davies, a contract farmer who lost a friend to suicide, said the charity was “very close to all of our hearts”.

A range of vintage vehicles joined the run

The 23-year-old from Wraughton said: “Yellow Wellies were very close to me when I lost my friend.

“They helped pick me back up and bring me back into the world and (the club) donates to them as much as we can every year.”

He added: “It’s not as easy as it should be for farmers but what we can do is brighten their days a little bit - bring the tractors out.”

A fire engine was one of the many vintage vehicles on the run

Vintage and modern tractors were joined by two Citroen 2CVs, a classic fire engine and vintage military vehicles.

Participants decked their tractors out in Halloween decorations and travelled over 30 miles.

Club member Joe Terry said: "The day ran very smoothly. We had an amazing turnout at the Sustain farm shop, where we started, with lots of general public coming to see the vehicles."

He added: "As we went through the villages on our route we had an enormous turnout...making the atmosphere even better."