An early rush of visitors to the latest Norfolk Farm Machinery Club's demonstration saw some of the latest tackle in action.

Event organiser Chris Thomas said exhibitors and dealers were delighted with the response as farmers from Oxfordshire, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the west Midlands, as well from across East Anglia, toured more than 50 working plots.

The 300-acre site at Brettenham Manor, near Thetford, had been made available by Peter Wright, on behalf of JA & PE Wright.

'I think many were surprised that some visitors had driven so far. There was a great atmosphere and we had visitors arriving from early in the morning,' said Mr Thomas, who is county co-ordinator.

'I was very concerned that with the good weather that many people would be finishing off their combining. I was surprised, too, that the car park filled very quickly and stayed full,' he added.

'The exhibitors were very pleased with the quality of inquiries and the number. They were quite buoyant,' said Mr Thomas.

'We're well-known for putting on a practical event with big plots, which makes a big difference,' he added.

'I think that people were impressed by the novelty of the big Xerion 5000 tractor from Claas pulling a big Dowdeswell 10-furrow plough. There was interest too in the range of two-bed tillers from Norfolk-based George Moate too.'

A new exhibitor, the FarmWell Rotary Spader/pneumatic drill, which provided a one-pass system, was another interesting concept, he added.

'I think many visitors thought that with a decent forecast for the few days that they could spend a day at the demo and then get back to finish off harvest,' said Mr Thomas.

A tractor and trailer shuttle carried visitors around the site, which included working demonstrations from leading agricultural machinery dealers.

Normac, which was established in 1946, stages a big working event every two years, has centres or clubs across the county.