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Where to see seventh annual Christmas Tractor Run

Navkiran Mannin Coventry
Sheepy Ploughing and Hedgecutting Association A tractor covered in colourful Christmas lights drives along a road at night during a festive parade. The vehicle is decorated with illuminated outlines, glowing red wheel rims and strings of white, blue, green and pink lights. A trailer behind the tractor is also decorated with Christmas lights and festive displays.Sheepy Ploughing and Hedgecutting Association
More than 50 illuminated tractors are expected to take part in this year's Christmas Tractor Run

Thousands of people across Warwickshire are expected to line the streets when an annual Christmas Tractor Run returns this winter.

More than 50 illuminated tractors will take part in the festive event, which aims to raise money for local charities while bringing Christmas cheer to communities.

The parade will take place on 11-12 December, with tractors gathering from 15.30 GMT before setting off at 17:00 on both days.

The brightly decorated convoy will travel through Atherstone, Nuneaton, Bedworth and Coventry. Organisers said the routes would be similar to previous years, with maps and timing information published online.

What does the run involve?

"The tractors don't look like tractors. They look like sleighs. They look like fairy tale wonderlands," said Martin Brandreth from the Sheepy Ploughing Association.

"We put thousands and thousands of lights on. We thought we'd bring some pleasure to people that are feeling quite down, isolated, and they can just come out and watch some tractors drive around the streets", he added.

Brandreth launched the event in 2020 during the Covid pandemic, and has since become a festive fixture for many people across Coventry and Warwickshire.

"Initially, it was from something sad that happened within the community. One of our committee members passed away from a brain tumour, so we decided to do a fundraiser to raise a little bit of money for the hospice", Brandreth said.

After the success of that first event, the group decided to do more to brighten people's moods by putting lights on the tractors and take them out onto the streets and raise money for charity.

Sheepy Ploughing Xmas Tractor Run A person dressed as Santa Claus stands beside a large blue tractor decorated with blue and white Christmas lights at night. The illuminated tractor is parked outdoors, with festive lights wrapped around its body and wheels, while a bright streetlight shines in the background.Sheepy Ploughing Xmas Tractor Run
A festive tractor and Santa Claus take part in a previous Sheepy Ploughing Association Christmas Tractor Run

Where does the money go?

The event has raised funds over the years for a range of local charities.

"We've raised money for hospices, air ambulance, the children's hospital in Birmingham. So all quite local, all elements that all of us in the area will use at some point potentially or family members will.

"I'm very proud of what we have done as a as a group of people. Everyone always asks when for the next one", Brandreth said.

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