You can see a slideshow of photos from the Pink Ladies' tractor run here.

Amid white plumes of smoke, 90 women took the tractor helm to steer the bumpy fields and winding country roads along the 20-mile route to raise money for breast cancer research.

Starting at Thorpe Abbotts Airfield, the tractors rolled through Syleham and Harleston before arriving at Gawdy Hall, Redenhall for lunch.

Spectators lined the villages, waving flags and clapping their hands to spur the pink ladies on.

Despite threatening clouds, the rain held off for most of the day – good news for those tractor drivers without the luxury of a cab.

Organiser Annie Chapman, from Pulham St Mary, said: "It was brilliant and we were so lucky with the weather – we could have been soaked.

"We were astonished with the number of people who came to support us – there is a wonderful internal grapevine."

Many of the women were not novices to the event and some had even taken part in every run over the past five years.

The reason they come back? It seems to be the atmosphere and the community spirit.

"People have said to me it's better than a carnival," said Mrs Chapman.

But it is not just the atmosphere that motivates people to go on the run. It really is true that everyone knows someone who has suffered or been touched by breast cancer.

Area volunteer manger for Cancer Research UK in Norfolk, Paul Fleet, said the event is certainly the most unique he has been involved with, not just because of the effort people go to when decorating their tractors.

"It was a real eye opener. To see all the messages on the tractors as well. For many people it was not just a fundraising event – it raises awareness too. You cannot put a figure on that."

The tractor road run has raised more than £89,000 for breast cancer research in the past five years.

That money is spent on research at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, to find out why healthy cells go wrong, and to discover preventative measures against the cancer.

This year's efforts are expected to push the amount over the £100,000 mark – a great credit to all those who sponsored the event.

For those of us who took part, exposed to the elements from 9am until about 5pm when the tractors trundled home, it was a breath of fresh air in more than one way.

And a cup of tea has never tasted so good.