According to figures released by the AEA, UK registrations of agricultural tractors moved back above last year's level and close to the seasonal average in November.

At 638 machines, the monthly total was up by 22%, with more than 100 extra tractors registered this year.

Stephen Howarth, agricultural economist at the AEA, said, "This means that registrations are up 5% year on year over the last four months, although the total for the year to date is still nearly 20% lower than in the equivalent period last year, following the sharp decline in the spring."