Christmas cheer will be hitting the streets of Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane and Doune, this year with Santa’s elves accompanying a charity tractor run in memory of much-loved Heather (McAllister) McDougall, on December 7.

The Stirlingshire Christmas Tractor Run, which is due to take place on Saturday, December 7, from 6pm, will see some 65 tractors and articulated lorries travel from United Auctions’ Stirling Agricultural Centre, in a 21-mile circuit which is expected to last two hours and raise much-needed funds for the Somerville Heart Foundation.

It is the second charity tractor convoy organised by Bobby Wilson, Kippen, who earlier this year arranged a similar event for Arnprior blacksmith Bobby Gunn, which in turn raised in excess of £6000 for the Heart, Stroke and Chest Foundation.

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“The idea is provide a bit of festive cheer on the run-up to Christmas and especially for the McAllister and McDougall families from Gargunnock and Kelty, when Heather McDougall lost her life at the age of just 38 on December 27 last year,” said Bobby. “The tractor run is also being organised in association with the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET), to remind people that it is farmers who put the food on Christmas dinner tables.

“Members of RHET will be dressing up as elves, collecting money and travelling alongside the procession to help educate the younger generation about the good work farmers do, not only in producing food but also in looking after the countryside.”

Tractors and lorries will be decorated in Christmas lights and other paraphernalia, with prizes awarded to the best dressed classic and modern tractor as well as the best articulated lorry. Heather’s mother, Mairi Paterson, Dunruchan, Muthill, Crieff, has been honoured with selecting the winners and will also be driving one of the 65 entries.

The decorated tractor procession is commencing at 6pm from Stirling Agricultural Centre and travelling from Castle Business Park roundabout to Ballengeich Road, down Broad Street Stirling, down St Mary’s Wynd, down Union Street, to Causewayhead and into Bridge of Allan. From there, it will head to Keir roundabout and into Dunblane, travelling up to the golf club roundabout past Tesco and on to Doune. The convoy will then make its way through Doune, down to Kirklane, Sommers Lane and onto Chalmerston Road before completing the route at United Auctions Stirling.

Details of how to donate can be found on https://www.justgiving.com/page/robert-wilson-1728415105679