FARMERS came from far and wide for for an annual tup sale on Tuesday.

More than 300 tups were on offer at St John's Chapel Auction Mart, in Weardale, and attracted buyers from as far as Northern Ireland, Inverness and Devon.

The traditional sale sees the best male sheep from the region put up for sale in the hope they will produce the finest lambs for the coming season and yesterday was no different with 60 vendors attending the popular event.

Auctioneer, Libby Bell, of Barnard Castle Auction Mart, said this year's event had seen particularly high prices for several tups which were snapped up.

The highest selling tup was bought for £8,000 by Graham Carrick, of Garrigill, in Cumbria, which was closely followed by a champion tup which was bought by Dan Humble, of Burtree Ford, County Durham, for £7,500.

The event was organised by Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association.

Ms Bell was joined by guest auctioneer Morris Scott, of Hawes Auction Mart.

She said: "It was a very good event. The ring was packed out at the point of the highest-selling tup. Farmers usually look for a good size and we had a lot of local breeders but also breeders from further afield."