Leicestershire Christmas tractor run aims to raise £30,000

Farmers in Leicestershire are getting ready to light up their tractors in the run up to Christmas to raise money for charity.

About 300 brightly-decorated agricultural vehicles are set to take part in the annual Archers Festive Tractor Run on Sunday 17 December.

They will start in Lutterworth at 16:15 GMT and then tour round a circuit of 10 towns and villagers.

Organiser Ryan Archer said he hoped the event would raise £30,000 for charity.

Mr Archer, from Blaby, Leicestershire, said: "People are already putting ridiculous amounts of time and effort into making their tractors look spectacular.

"Our route is a bit longer than in previous years to give people more of a chance to come out and see us."

The Archers Tractor Run has become a popular annual event in south Leicestershire

Mr Archer said the convoy would travel from Lutterworth to Dunton Bassett then to Cosby, Whetstone, Blaby and South Wigston.

It will then head to Countesthorpe, Peatling Magna and Peatling Parva and Gilmorton before returning to Lutterworth, he said.

The proceeds from the tractor run will be split between the Rainbows children's hospice, in Loughborough, and the Leicestershire MS Therapy Centre and the LOROS hospice and Wishes 4 Kids charity, which are all based in Leicester.

The Charnwood Young Farmers are also organising a tractor run on Sunday with between 20 and 30 illuminated tractors touring a 20-mile (32.2km) route.

It will start at 16:00 near Markfield and pass in a circular route through Copt Oak, Woodhouse Eaves, Swithland, Mountsorrel, Thurcaston, Anstey and Newtown Linford.

Young Farmers spokeswoman Ellie Knight said: "We getting really excited about it. Christmas will roll right through Charnwood."

The event will also raise money for Rainbows as well as the Cope Children's Trust.