A HUGE crowd attended a full dispersal of farm machinery at the weekend.

Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held the sale of implements and tractors at Orchard Farm, Middleton-in-Teesdale on behalf of Mr G Simpson, who is retiring from farming, due to ill health.

The wet day in no way detracted from buyers attending on sale morning with 409 lots selling to an incredible 120 different buyers from all over the North of England.

Hundreds of onlookers, many of whom were Teesdale residents, dodged the showers in a great show of support for the retiring Mr Simpson.

The top prices from the dispersal were achieved by the two loader tractors: £5,600 was paid for the 2wd International 856XL with its big sister the 4wd 885XL reaching £4,500. Many of the livestock requisites sold extremely well with some lots reaching 'nearly new' prices.

All here at DFAM wish Mr Simpson well in his retirement.

Of the inputted lots, a Claas Airion 640 4wd loader tractor sold for £17,000, a Leyland 245 reached £2,100 and a Fordson Major £1,200.