NORTH Sheep 2015 will be held in Cumbria next year.

Neil and Sally Marston will host the National Sheep Association’s (NSA’s) key biennial event, at Millstone Moor Farm, Cockermouth, on Wednesday, June 3.

The couple are noted for the quality of the Bluefaced Leicesters and North of England Mule sheep they breed.

Julie Sedgewick, event organiser, said: “It’s brilliant to be bringing NSA North Sheep back to Cumbria, which is a renowned sheep producing area.

“NSA North Sheep 2015 will focus on the current challenges and opportunities in the industry, and we are expecting visitors from all over the UK, not just Northern England, to make the trip to the Marston’s fantastic livestock farm.”

Neil Marston has bred sheep all his life and farms with his wife, Sally, and parents Raymond and Frances.

They have farmed at Millstone Moor Farm since 2008 and are well known in sheep breeding circles. They hold the record for the highest priced animals ever sold at Mitchell’s Market in Cockermourth, with the champion and reserve champions at the Bluefaced Leicester sales selling for £8,000 each last year.

The Marstons have also had success in the showing world, winning a Royal Highland Show championship with a Mule Ewe lamb.

The family farm 650 acres, half of which is owned and the rest is on a Farm Business Tenancy (FBT).

It is home to the Highberries flock of Bluefaced Leicesters, a small flock of pure-bred Swaledales, North of England Mule ewes, a pure Dutch Texel/ Beltex flock and some Texel cross Mule ewes.

They have a total of about 1,800 breeding ewes and a 60 strong suckler cattle herd made up of pure Limousins and Belgian Blue crosses.

Neil Marston said that they were delighted to be hosting the event.

“It is a great honour to be welcoming this, the leading sheep event in the North of England, once again to Cumbria.

“Visitors will see a working farm on the edge of the Lake District, and as well as learning about developments in the sheep sector, they will also be able to enjoy panoramic views across the Lakes on one side and across the Solway to Scotland.”