A WORLD record could be broken when thousands of tractors descend on Hullavington this weekend.

The Great British Tractor Challenge hopes to attract 2,003 working tractors to the same place at the same time to smash the previous record of 1,832 set in Ireland last year.

It has taken John and Lynda Collingborn, of Newport, Wales, months of preparation to set up the record attempt and hopes are high that it can be done.

Mrs Collingborn said: "We were very short with only about 1,000 tractors registered and some people, not us, were having doubts.

"Some farmers were worried about their crops, but since the weather has been so good over the last three weeks the phone hasn't stopped ringing from 6.30am until midnight everyday.

"I am very, very confident we will take the record. If we do I will be on my back with a bottle of vodka."

The event will be held on land owned by John Eaves and on the adjacent Hullavington airfield.

Mrs Collingborn said it had been hard work setting up the record attempt.

"If my husband comes up with another idea like this I will be divorcing him. There were people who thought we would not get this far. When John said we could use his land I don't think he thought it would ever come off.

"We have had donations of money from small clubs and everybody has been wonderful."

The event will be held over two days with a vintage tractor event for machines built before 1973 on Saturday, and the main record attempt held on Sunday.

Entry is £3 with children under 12 admitted free. Money raised from the event will be split between Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Progress for Prostate Cancer in Gwent, Wales.

With so many tractors converging on one place Mrs Collingborn said they had taken every precaution possible to prevent traffic chaos by providing plenty of parking.

The challenge has also been issued a certificate from the National Traction Engine Trust ensuring the safety of the event.

Among those taking part will be tractors which have travelled from Australia for the event.