A SHEPHERD at a farm attraction has scooped a prestigious agriculture award.

Richard Darlington, 25, who works and lives at Hall Hill Farm, near Lanchester, has been named the Northern Young Farmer of the Year for 2017.

He said: “I am thrilled to have not only been nominated for this prestigious award but also to actually win it.

“It is a great honour and I am really proud of everyone at Hall Hill Farm who have helped me to achieve it.”

The family-run tourist attraction, which has been providing children and families with an educational and fun day out for over 35 years, was recently named nationally as the Farm Attraction of the Year.

Mr Darlington beat off stiff competition from a final shortlist of three, including Tommy Stones, of Nun Cote Nook Farm, Richmond and Tom Heseltine, of Hesketh House, Skipton.

The judges struggled to separate the trio of young farmers but said that Richard’s pride in his work shone through.

His mother, Ann Darlington, the farm’s tourism development manager, said: “I am thrilled. He works really hard, and always puts in 110 per cent effort and commitment into everything he does.”