A PENSIONER will be going that extra mile for charity when she drives her tractor from North Cornwall to Hatherleigh next week.

Mary Phillips, from St Teath in North Cornwall, will make the journey in her 1950s Field Marshall Series 3a tractor.

The tractor enthusiast, known by locals as Mary Tractor, will travel 44 miles, at eight miles per hour, in her bid to raise money for Devon and Cornwall Air Ambulance.

Mary, who has already raised £1,000 from sponsors, said she wanted to give something back after her mother died two years ago on Christmas Day.

She said: 'My mum was living with us and one day she collapsed in the car and I couldn't wake her.

'I called the doctor first, who told me to go straight home, and then I dialled 999.

'The emergency services were there within minutes — there were four paramedics, as well as the air ambulance.

'The paramedics were able to bring her round, so she didn't need to go with the air ambulance in the end.

'I just wanted to do something to say thank you.'

Mary is no stranger to fundraising — she visits Hatherleigh Market every Tuesday to look for goods to sell at charity auctions she regularly holds in Cornwall.

Mary said: 'I wanted to also include the Devon Air Ambulance too, because I go to Devon a lot.

'I'm always doing something and every month I do a raffle at the cattle market in Hatherleigh.'

Last year Mary raised £3,150 through auctions and raffles and in May this year she raised a further £1,517.

Mary added: 'I am doing this with the support of my partner, Peter, who is going to follow on behind me.

'His tractor is exactly the same as mine, so I can carry on in his if something was to go wrong.

'I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't for him — he is the expert on Field Marshalls, he's known for his knowledge of them for many miles around.'

Mary will be setting off on her journey on Tuesday, October 27 between 6am and 6.30am.

The trip is estimated to take between five and six hours, weather conditions depending.

She expects to arrive at Hatherleigh Cattle Market between noon and 12.30pm.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor Mary can phone her on 07811 657 249.