Farmers praise 'amazing' support for tractor run

Thousands of people have gathered to see more than 300 festively decorated tractors on a drive to raise money for charity.

Romsey young farmers tractor run saw the convoy travel from Broughton to Romsey to raise money for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, and Southampton Children's Hospital.

Organiser Alex Drake, from Michelmersh Manor Farm, said the support of the general public was "amazing" and it was "definitely the biggest one we've ever had" with 308 tractors involved.

He added: "The amount of money that's getting handed over into our pots and buckets is absolutely incredible."

He said the event was also "a good blow out" for British farmers who he said had experienced a difficult year.

"So this has a twofold achievement, I suppose, of raising awareness of British farming and raising money for charity," Mr Drake said.

Alongside the Christmassy decorations adorning the tractors were British flags and phrases like "Back British Farming".

Mr Drake said: "For the British public, they need our food, we need them and if they want low food miles, with low costs, with no importations or less importations, they need to support us to keep us going.

"If they do that for us, we'll keep these great events going."