MORE than 50 tractor drivers donned Christmas jumpers and decorated their vehicles with "copious amounts of tinsel" to help raise more than £2,000 for charity last weekend.

At an event organised by local fundraiser Sophie Cooke, who owns The Rising Sun in Woolaston, the drivers got into the festive spirit for a Charity Christmas Tractor Run on Sunday (December 4).

Those who took part in the run paid £10 per tractor and £5 per passenger to help raise a grand total of £2,071 for the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity.

A total of 54 tractors, both vintage and modern, took part in a grand tour of the village which started from The Rising Sun, with many residents lining the streets to watch the festive farmers pass by.

Prizes were awarded to the best dressed tractor and driver, with first place going to Ross Price (pictured) and Luke Philpotts being voted runner up by competition judge Roger Harris.

Sophie, who has been raising money for charity from a young age, organised the run in less than three weeks, and described the event as "a huge success".

She said: "It’s surprising what you can organise in less than three weeks, especially when raising money for a very worthy charity! 

"With over 50 tractors both being vintage and modern and copious amounts of tinsel, our first ever charity Christmas tractor run was a huge success!

"Raising money for charity is something I love doing! We can’t wait to organise the next one! Hopefully in June so more vintage tractors can join in!"

Prior to last weekend, Sophie had already helped raise an impressive haul of more than £10,000 for charity this year,

She held a harvest auction at The Rising Sun in October, at which £2,500 was raised, also for the Great Western Air Ambulance, as well as a Macmillan Coffee Morning which bought in £1000.

She also hosted a memorial fundraiser for local man JT in September, where more than £7000 was raised for Save9Lives and the British Heart Foundation.