Appeal to buy old farming equipment

An appeal has been launched to buy old relics of a bygone era when Suffolk Punch horses worked the fields.

Supporters of the heavy horse breed aim to raise £8,000 to buy eight pieces of equipment to display in a new museum that will be created at the Suffolk Punch stud at Hollesley, near Woodbridge.

The Suffolk Punch Trust wants to build a visitor centre, a new access road, car and coach park at the stud which it bought in 2006.

Joe Arbon, a retired builder from Pettistree, is selling his collection of vintage equipment and the trust is now trying to raise the money needed to buy it.

There have been some substantial donations towards the appeal from companies and individuals but more than £6,000 is still required.

Tom Walne, a farmer and member of the Suffolk Horse Society, said: "Joe Arbon lost his storage place for the implements and he wants to sell them.

"I believe that Joe could have sold them at their asking price but perhaps they would have gone out of the county and that would have been sad.

"If we can raise the money, the implements will become the property of the trust to be kept here in the museum and still be available for organised use away from here.