Pink Ladies Tractor Run ready to hit the road for 20th year

The Pink Ladies Tractor Run returns this weekend with almost 200 women navigating a 20-mile course on farm machines all decked out in pink.

The event, which has raised more than £1m for Cancer Research over the years, involves a vast convoy of decorated tractors journeying along a rural route through south Norfolk and north Suffolk.

This year's tractor run, on Saturday, will be the 20th to be held. Of those taking part, 60 will be doing so for the first time.

Organiser of the Pink Ladies Tractor Road Run Annie Chapman (Image: Jonathan Slack)

Organiser Annie Chapman said: "We all thought we would take a bit of a dip in sign-ups this year after the record number of ladies last year.

"With 201 ladies on 195 tractors, we smashed the £1m by raising £201,000. Well, there’s no sign of a dip this year.

"I have 194 ladies booked in, a few of them are passengers and over 60 of them are new ladies."

This year almost 200 women are signed up for the event (Image: Jonathan Slack)

The tractor run starts at Thorpe Abbotts airfield and will stop for a picnic at Gawdy Hall Meadow, Redenhall.

Thousands of spectators line the route each year, cheering the women and showing their support by dressing in pink and decorating homes and businesses.

Audrey Alexander, a long-term participant, said: "I have been taking part in the Pink Ladies Tractor Run since 2005 and it’s firmly written in my diary every year, it’s such a wonderful thing to do, raising money to help find a cure for breast cancer.

"Taking part in the run on the day is a happy and sad experience."

The Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run will return in style this Sunday July 7 (Image: Jonathan Slack)

There will be no public access to Thorpe Abbots airfield via the museum this year.

It will instead be accessed through a gate on the Billingford Road.

The end of the procession is marked by a modern, blue support tractor.