4,000 flock to Tern Valley Vintage Machinery Trust show

Attractions at the 34th annual Tern Valley Vintage Machinery Trust show at Chetwynd Deer Park on the outskirts of Newport included about 180 tractors, 100 trucks, 100 vintage cars and 70 motorbikes.

There were also military vehicles, stalls, and models made by expert craftsmen while raffle tickets were on sale to win a vintage tractor dating back to 1962 to raise funds for the Midlands Air Ambulance charity.

Organisers of the event on Saturday and Sunday had been hoping to draw in between 5,000 and 6,000 people and admitted the forecast for the weekend, which predicted heavy rain on Saturday, hit the gate.

Trust member Dave Coombes said: "I think the weather forecast put a lot of people off on Saturday and we were a little bit low with the gate on Saturday. But we made up for it yesterday and had a lot more people in.

"We didn't get quite as many in as we would have liked, but I think we will be looking at around the 4,000 mark when we add them all up which, while it was slightly down on what we expected, isn't bad at all. The frustrating thing is that we didn't end up actually having that much rain, even on the Saturday.

"But I just think people saw the forecast and it put a lot of them off coming."

Three clubs were represented for the first time at the event – the Ford and Fordson Association, The Ferguson Club and the Nuffield and Leyland Tractor Club.

"There was a wide variety of machines for people to look at and enjoy," Mr Coombes said.

"Many of the exhibitors were happy to talk to people about their machines as well. It attracts a wide range of people.

"We also had a helicopter fly in from RAF Shawbury yesterday morning which was quite spectacular and it took off again just before the show finished.

"The people on our trade stands have reported doing good business. We hope to run it again next year – we will sit down as a committee again in about a month's time, look at how we have done and what we need, and take it from there."