A STUDENT paramedic from West Midlands Ambulance Service will be part of a team travelling the length of Britain on a mode of transport more suited to the green fields of Worcestershire.

Samantha Jones, formerly of Hindlip, will join police officers – including BBC One’s Motorway Cops star Angus Nairn – a property developer and members of the military taking part in the LEJOG Tractor Challenge in aid of Acorns Children’s Hospice and Help for Heroes.

The competition will see two teams of five – an army team and a civvie team – race JCB Fastrac tractors, which have a top speed of 40mph, in opposite directions between Land’s End and John O’Groats.

As well as the speediest, the winning team must also be the most fuel efficient in the challenge, which takes place between Saturday, May 21, and Sunday, May 22.

It is hoped the 874-mile journey will raise £30,000 for the charities, and if completed successfully, will set a new world record for the most fuel efficient journey.

Miss Jones said: “We took part in the Red Arrows Charity Vespa Challenge from Land’s End to John O’Groats last year.

“We wanted to do something like that again so we went through all the world records like that and one with a tractor hadn’t been done.

“We decided to do it with two tractors and have a bit of a race. It should take about 21 hours. We’re going from Land’s End and the army team are going from John O’Groats.

“There’s going to be a lot of sleep depri vation but it’s exciting. No one’s done it before.”

To sponsor the teams, text ‘TRACTOR’ to 70099. Texts cost £2 plus your standard SMS charge.

At least £1.70 will be divided equally between the two charities.

For more information, visit lejogtractorchallenge. webs.com.