A festive tractor run that raises thousands of pounds for charity has been cancelled due to police safety concerns.

The Kenn Valley Young Farmers annual Christmas Charity Tractor Run was scheduled to take place on Sunday (December 22). The illuminated tractors were due to spread joy through Exminster, Kenton, Starcross, Ashcombe, Ideford, Chudleigh and Kennford.

However, the Young Farmers said they were ‘incredibly disappointed’ that ‘due to police and highways legislation we have been strongly advised not to proceed’.

Kenn Valley Young Farmers acknowledged that while the event always carries risks, they have always managed to find a way to overcome health and safety issues. ‘We have spent the last four months preparing for this event; emailing, calling, filling in paperwork, a spokesperson from Kenn Valley Young Farmers said. ‘Unfortunately, all of this preparation has not helped our case.’

After meeting with the authorities to discuss police and highways legislation Kenn Valley said they were ‘strongly advised not to proceed’.

‘We have cancelled the event to keep our farmers and the general public safe and to prevent disruption to the general public,’ the Kenn Valley Young Farmers spokesperson said. ‘This is a huge disappointment to us as a club- especially after raising just shy of £3000 for charity at last year’s event,’ the spokesperson added.

Devon and Cornwall Police said it takes public safety extremely seriously and has a duty to inform members of the public of certain health and safety aspects when organising any public event.

‘Advice has been given by police and partners through the Safety Advisory Group in how events can be run lawfully and as safely as possible to ensure participants and the public are kept safe, as well as minimising traffic disruption to other road users,’ the spokesperson added..

Kenn Valley Young Farmers Christmas Tractor Run is not the first to be hit by a Devon and Cornwall Police crackdown on safety. Earlier this month, the Dartmouth Tractors of Light Parade and the Saltash Christmas Tractor Run were cancelled for similar reasons.

River Dart Rotary, which organises the Dartmouth Tractors of Light procession, said it had cancelled to avoid potential traffic-related offences’.