WATCH: Tractor tribute for Frank Wilkinson takes social media by storm

An impromptu tractor rally for a dementia sufferer has gone viral on social media.

Family of Frank Wilkinson were stunned when scores of tractors arrived at Beaconsfield Care Home in Barnard Castle for his 83rd birthday party on Saturday in response to a Facebook appeal made only three days earlier.

A TikTok video of the event had gained just under one million views when the Mercury went to press and was growing quickly each day.

His granddaughter Megan Jones said: “He grew up on a farm and has always had tractors.

“He was also a long-distance haulier, so he is always talking about tractors and wagons.

“My auntie Annieleigh put it on Facebook and that was that, it just blew up.

“About 20 to 25 tractors turned out for him honking their horns driving up and down past the Beaconsfield.

“We couldn’t believe how many turned up.

“We would have been happy if it was just two or three.

“It was so overwhelming.”

The vehicles then gathered in the Richardson Hospital car park around the corner so that Frank could get up close to them.

Frank is originally from Cockfield but was moved to the Beaconsfield after recovering from a stroke and being diagnosed with dementia.

Megan said: “We are very grateful to all the people that did this for him, as it may be his last birthday he remembers.

“His memory fluctuates but he still recognises us and he still talks about tractors and wagons all the time.”

The family in particular thanked Leah Johnson, Callum Dent and friends, Elaine Dent and Hamsterley Vintage Tractor Club as well as everyone else who took part in the rally.

Megan said: “It was lovely to see him so happy.”

A thank you message from Annieleigh on Facebook raked up more than 600 likes within a day of it being posted.

Although Frank’s birthday was actually on Tuesday, September 8, the party was held on Saturday so that all of his family could attend.