A TWO-YEAR-OLD sheep dog is believed to have sold for a new world record price at an official sale at Skipton mart.

At 4,100gns, Floss, a black and white bitch sold for almost 1,000gns more than the previous record, also set at the mart.

She was sold by Tom Lawrenson, 20, of Brindle, near Chorley, at the late autumn sale of working sheepdogs. The anonymous buyer was a Cumbrian sheep farmer who will use Floss as a working dog rather than entering her in trials.

Mr Lawrenson, a working sheep farmer has bred sheep dogs for only three years and Floss was among the first litter he bred. She has already proved her natural ability both working at home with cattle and sheep and in trials, winning the major Holme and Fylde nursery championships this year.

Floss is a daughter of Ben, owned by sheep farmer and dog breeder Derek Scrimgeour of Keswick. Ben competed twice for the English team, and finished fifth in the International Supreme Championship in Ireland in 2002. He has produced several outstanding dogs, most of which have gone abroad.

The late autumn sale, a new fixture, attracted 61 entries.

Prices: broken dogs to 4,100gns av £1,239; unbroken dogs to 700gns av £363; pups to 350gns av £105.