DEVOTED son Anth Pattle is carrying out a labour of love to restore an old tractor that was once the pride and joy of his father, who died from cancer three years ago.

Mr Pattle, 25 of Broadway Farm, West Lavington, tracked down the Massey Ferguson 135 dating from 1976 that was sold by his father in 2009 and is about to embark on a major restoration exercise. He used money left to him in his father's will to buy it but needs to save up for parts needed for the work.

He said: "For me it is all about memories. I have very fond recollections of my dad driving it across the fields. After he died three years ago I wanted to try and buy it back and now I have managed to get it.

"I can't start the work straightaway as it cost me about £4,500 to buy but I will do it gradually. I like tinkering with things and will enjoy doing the work when I can afford it."

Mr Pattle, who is a former pupil at Lavington School, trained as a plasterer and worked for Gaigers in Devizes but after his father Paul died, aged 52, in 2013 from pancreatic cancer he gave up his career to help his mum Amanda on the family chicken farm.

Mr Pattle managed to track the tractor down as he knew his father had originally sold it to someone at a firm that supplies the farm with sawdust.

He said: "It took a bit of time and persuasion to get the tractor but I am really pleased that I have got it. It is important to me and helps me keep the memory of my father alive. It cost quite a lot of money but to me it is worth it.

"My dad owned and ran a poultry farm along side my mum Amanda for nearly 30 years. The tractor was one of the last 135 models that was on the production line. Dad was the second owner of the tractor buying it from a local farmer in the early 1990s.

"Me and my brother Alex and friends growing up have great memories of driving the 135 around the paddock taking it in turns having a drive with dad sat on the side showing us how to change gear.

"Dad was a kind great person that loved playing football with me and my brother and friends. A lot of the time I think our friends come to play football with him rather than us.

"Dad taught me how to drive on the tractor at age seven."

He said his dad always regretted selling the tractor but now it has come home. Mr Pattle said: "I thought buying the 135 back its like bringing a piece of my dad back to the farm. I would like to restore it to original condition in memory of my dad."