The winners of an all-expenses-paid trip to tour the Massey Ferguson tractor plant at Beauvais in France have just returned home to the UK after a truly memorable visit.

Steve Morris and Alister Renton won the trip as first prize in a raffle staged to support the fund-raising efforts of a vintage tractor convoy which crossed the treacherous Morecambe Bay sands in Northwest England last year. As a result of the 19-strong tractor cavalcade, more than £5500 (EUR:6548) were raised and presented to the Diabetes Research Group at Kings College, London.

In a packed programme, Steve and Alister toured the busy factory (including the new Beauvais 2 cab assembly complex) and had the opportunity to try out some of the latest MF tractors. In addition, they took in a visit to the nearby farm run by the local L'Institut Polytechnique La Salle Beauvais and also found time to tour the magnificent Beauvais Cathedral.

The pair, together with Bob Dickman, who masterminded the vintage tractor convoy and accompanied them on the trip, said they were particularly impressed with the cleanliness of the Beauvais plant and the enthusiastic participation of everyone on the factory floor in ensuring high quality manufacture and assembly.