With Indian car maker Tata looking increasingly likely to buy Land Rover from Ford, UK farmers can expect to see the return of a manufacturer that was once well known in farming and rural circles.

Tata, which also owns Tetley tea and Corus steel, brought in its Indian-made pick-ups for several years and even, briefly, a conventional-looking off-roader called the Safari.

Though build quality was patchy, their simple mechanicals and low prices made them a familiar sight on country roads. Who would have guessed that they would return as the new owner of Britain’s most famous off-road vehicle?