WEST DORSET: Littlebredy-based farmer Judi James, has hit the headlines more than once and she's doing it again.

She’s been crowned UK Worker of the Year in 2013, been shortlisted for the Sexist Farmer awards and has now come in the top five per cent of fund-raisers in the country.

She made the list after driving a combine harvester 100 miles from Wimbledon to Littlebredy in June 2014.

After winning the national competition UK Worker of the Year, Judi took on her dream of driving a combine harvester from London to her home in Littlebredy near Dorchester.

Judi, backed by hundreds of people, set out on her journey, taking three days to reach Littlebredy and raised more than £2000 in the process.

Judi, who was raising awareness of breast cancer, said: “I’m delighted to have been told that the combine harvester run put me in the top five per cent of fundraisers for 2014.

“I never really thought I would go ahead with my ‘mad’ idea, but winning the UK Worker of the Year competition gave me the confidence to go ahead with it.”

Since winning Judi the UK Worker of the Year competition she has become an ambassador for the competition, and found herself on the judging panel last year.

Alongside four other judges, Judi sat and interviewed seven finalists at Suzuki GB’s headquarters in Milton Keynes in September.

Judi, who won a Suzuki Swift car with her title, said: “The whole judging day really emphasised what hard work is all about.

“It felt great to be on the other side of the table, though I was still able to relate to how each finalist must be feeling.”

Judi is now in talks regarding a possible machinery sponsor for 2016.

Maurice Morton, sales and marketing director at workwear brand Dickies, which set up the worker award, said: “Judi has been a fantastic winner of the UK Worker of the Year competition, going on to use the prestigious title to achieve more in the agricultural sector.”

The 2015 competition will be officially launched at the first MCE British Superbike race meeting at Donington Park over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.