AN AWARD-winning farmer will be competing in the annual ploughing championships later this year.

Will Collins from Alderbury will be taking part in the British National Ploughing Championships in autumn, competing against around 250 other ploughmen and women.

Ploughs are used to prepare soil for sowing seed, and with a passion for the farming industry Will has competed in a series of matches to make it to championship level.

READ: Thousands of pounds awarded to groups for 'vital services' to community >>>

Will said he feels "fantastic" to qualify for the championships, adding: "I'm the first person to have qualified in Wiltshire since 1998, so it's good to put Wiltshire back on the map for ploughing."

The weekend in October will be packed with a range of competitions testing various types and styles of ploughing, ending with the best being selected to represent England at the 2020 World Ploughing Contest, European Reversible Ploughing Championships and the European Vintage Ploughing Championships.

The 52-year-old, who has always had an agricultural background, will be completing in matches until then but will start "seriously practising in September", adding: "Ploughing keeps me in touch with my farming roots as I've been a farmer since school.

"I have to give a massive thanks to Keith Smith, who taught me how to do it and gave lots of advice."

The championships will be held in Lincoln on October 12 and 13.