FOR every furrow ploughed by vintage tractors at Burbage at the weekend pounds rolled in for the British Heart Foundation.

The annual ploughing match was organised for the fifth successive year by Tony Bushnell whose granddaughter Samantha was born with a hole in the heart.

At the age of just nine months Samantha underwent open heart surgery to correct the problem.

She is now a happy and healthy six-year-old who lives with her parents in Fyfield and attends Kennet Valley School, in Lockeridge.

To thank the doctors and surgeons Mr Bushnell, a vintage agricultural machinery enthusiast who lives in Burbage, organised a vintage ploughing match in aid of the British Heart Foundation the year after Samantha's operation

It was so successful it has been repeated every year since and took place on Sunday on Peter Devenish's land at East Sands in Burbage.

On Saturday night the tractors went on a road run around the surrounding villages with the drivers taking part in a treasure hunt and ending up back at the ploughing venue for a barbecue.

On Sunday it was down to the serious business of ploughing with 50 tractors taking their turn to plough the set-aside land.

Samantha's mother, Helen Walker, revealed there was an unexpected bonus for those taking part and spectating, a windfall crop of potatoes.

The land had been used in previous years for potato crops and those left in the ground had self-seeded.

"Everyone went home with bags of potatoes," said Ms Walker.

The proceeds of the day are still being tallied but it is expected to have raised about £1,500 for the British Heart Foundation, whose representative Peter Bancroft attended the event.