THE farming community has raised £18,000 for the Great North Air Ambulance at a fundraising auction.

Leyburn Livestock Auction Mart organised the event to enable Yorkshire Dales residents to thank the charity for its work in remote areas.

In 2010, the mart raised £13,000 for the charity following the service being used by the family of its director, Granville Fairburn, of Thornton Steward.

The event featured more than 160 lots, with the top price item - Ed Bulman's veterinary work offer - raising £940.

The total was boosted by donations of sheep and calves at the mart's sales.