A four-metre deep pond proved more than a match for a much-loved tractor.

When tractor enthusiast Andy May lent his brother, Gary, the most modern vehicle in his classic tractor collection, he did not expect to find it submerged in the farm pond.

Shocked Andy, 34, said: "Gary was using it to tidy up the pond to make it more wildlife-friendly.

"We were cleaning the banks to put grass seed down. As he went to put his foot on the brake, he must have miscalculated and it rolled back and ended up in the pond.

"The first I knew I got a call from his employer wondering where he was because all he could see was a submerged cabin and a pair of my boots in there."

Gary, 35, was able to climb out of the John Deere tractor and wade through the four metre deep pond to dry land at Mill Pond Farm, Little Oakley.

Because the water damaged his mobile phone, he was unable to phone anyone to tell them.

"His mobile phone was rather damaged, but nobody was hurt, and he was probably more worried about my reaction," added Andy.

Now able to joke about the mishap, he said: "I bought it with a view to restore it, so it has bought the job forward to be honest."