The appearance of Castle Cary Comedians Carnival Club on the Somerset carnival circuit last week was put in jeopardy when thieves stole their hauling tractor.
The club had hired the blue New Holland Tractor, worth £57,000, from Buglers in Marston Magna to get their "Plankers" float to and from all the carnival events.
The tractor hauled their float to Shepton Mallet on Tuesday in readiness for the town's spectacular the following night.
But it was stolen just after 12.30am on Wednesday morning,
Just hours before the Shepton Carnival was due to start the tractor was found. West Compton farmer William Davis spotted it abandoned in one of his fields.
