Robert Goodwill on board his ploughing engine in Terrington.

Put him on the back of a traction engine as it trundles around the lanes of Ryedale.

Farmer Robert Goodwill from Terrington, near Malton, played host to a group of traction engine enthusiasts from Switzerland as one of his pair of 1907 Fowler ploughing engines - the only examples of the sort which survive -steamed its way around the village, stopping off at the Bay Horse pub at lunchtime.

Mr Goodwill said his engines, which were built to work together, were only reunited recently after many years apart.

"The one we had in steam was brought back from the Czech Republic last March. The guys I bought it from didn't know I owned the only other one in the world.

"There are only about 150 ploughing engines in existence in this country, and most of them were made after the First World War."

Mr Goodwill added: "The people from Switzerland have a Fowler steam roller and they have been in this country having some castings made."

The visitors were escorted by Derek Rayner, from Acomb, a leading figure in the National Traction Engine Trust and an author of books on the subject.

Mr Goodwill is better known for his political ambitions, having stood as a Tory candidate at both Parliamentary and European level.

He is currently number three on the Yorkshire regional list of Conservative candidates for the 1999 European elections.

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