Fraudsters claiming to be collecting cash for Christmas Tractor Run branded 'shameful'

[dutchman]

Organisers received a report from a concerned resident who was visited by the fraudsters



'Shameful' Christmas Tractor Run scammers have been going door to door in Coventry collecting cash. They are pretending to be volunteering for the Sheepy Ploughing Association Christmas tractor run and say they are collecting for their chosen appeals.

But Charles Goadby, one of the organisers, said they have never carried out collections and only ever accept donations via their online justgiving page. He told CoventryLive that they received a message about the fraudsters last night (December 11).

"We got a message, it was in Wood End, that someone was going around collecting door to door," he said. "It's sad and shameful that someone would do this.

"We get a lot of comments from people say that we are missing getting money by not having people out with buckets, but you can't control who has got the buckets and where it is going.

"That is why we have always said to use Justgiving only. " All of the funds donated this year are being split between Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA), Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Lens Light charity.

In happier news, speaking about the two night event itself, which saw the huge procession trundle its way around North Warwickshire, Nuneaton, Bedworth and Coventry for the first time, Mr Goadby said: "It was our best one yet, without a doubt.

"The farmers said that there were so many people everywhere, in some places it was heaving." In total there were 75 tractors in the parade - a record number. There is another record the group would like to break.

Donations to the official Justgiving page have already smashed the original total of £10,000, and it now stands at over £18,000. The organisers say they would love to reach the £20,000 record.

"It would be amazing if we could get to that £20,000 mark again, just amazing," Charles said.

To make a donation to the official appeal, visit the justgiving page here