Tractors lit up for Christmas parade through towns

More than 50 tractors decorated with festive lights have paraded through the streets of north Warwickshire and Coventry to raise money for local charities.

The first Christmas Tractor Run, organised by the Sheepy & District Ploughing Association, took place on Friday night and the tractors are out again on Saturday.

The annual convoy of vehicles, now in its sixth year, goes through Nuneaton, Fillongley, Coventry and Bedworth on its second night.

Martin Brandreth, chairman of the association, said farmers got involved both to give back and bring Christmas cheer to the community.

Friday night's route saw the tractors gather near Fenny Drayton and drive to villages around Atherstone and Polesworth.

Mr Brandreth said: "Within the farming community, we love giving back."

He said the tractor run was an opportunity to raise money for charity and give goodwill and Christmas cheer to people.

"The biggest thing for us is when we're driving round and everyone is cheering," he said.

"You can hear the kids screaming and almost crying with excitement and you never stop waving. Your arm is basically dropping off by the end of it."

He said the feeling was phenomenal, adding: "You could almost cry with the amount of good feeling you get."

This year's event is raising money for Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity, the Air Ambulance Service which covers several counties including Warwickshire, and Len's Light, which raises awareness of mental health issues in rural communities.

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