Teenage student starts tractor challenge to Somerset

Richard Rook hopes to complete the journey in seven days

A farming student has started a 200-mile (321km) journey to Somerset on a vintage tractor in memory of a friend.

Richard Rook, 17, from Bedfordshire, will drive his family's 1960 Massey Ferguson 35 vehicle from Biggleswade to Brymore Academy in Cannington.

The sponsored challenge is in memory of Jake Bowles, who died last year.

He hopes the seven-day trip will raise money for the charity Papyrus, which raises awareness of suicide in younger people.

Mr Rook said: "It first started when a good mate of mine, Jake, said about driving it [tractor] down to Somerset from Bedfordshire as a joke.

"When he passed away the seed was sown and it just felt like the right thing to do, to do the run, in Jake's memory.

"I'm doing it for Papyrus, [the] prevention of young suicide charity. Jake took his own life so I've chosen this charity."

Mr Rook hopes to arrive in Cannington, near Bridgwater, in time for the academy's annual show and open day on 27 June.