Farming life of yesteryear was brought back into focus today, at the annual Michaelmas Trosh, held at Breck's Farm, Skeyton.

Hosted by potato grower Tom Randell, the event was first held five years ago, when Mr Randell began growing historic wheat more suitable for vintage farming machinery that its denser, shorter modern-day counterpart.

'People were coming along to watch us work, so we thought we might as well make it into an event that would be open to the public,' Mr Randell said.

The trosh has since raised thousands for local good causes including Buxton Scouts and Skeyton church and village hall.

Attractions at today's event included ploughing and threshing demonstrations, a vintage tractor display and a wood cutting demonstration which saw Derek Kirk of Tunstead and David Bilverstone of Ranworth use a vintage racksaw bench built by Mr Kirk and powered by a 1924 agricultural traction engine brought along by Strumpshaw Steam Museum volunteer Glenn Noakes.

Other machines on show included stationery engines, a threshing machine, traction engines and a Sentinel EPF steam lorry, which, complete with steam train engine, was originally used in the 1950s pull fairground rides from town to town.

Vintage farming equipment restorer Graham Kirk, who is a member of the 12-strong team of trosh organisers, hoped proceeds from this year's event would equal, or even top, last year's total of £1800.

'It has grown and grown and I think people like the fact that it is a real working faming and vintage day, as opposed to a rally,' he said.