A PRIZE-winning farmer who has looked after his sheep on moorland near Richmond for over 60 years was fined yesterday for not disposing of dead sheep quickly enough.

Jack Lynas, 75, of Kersey Green, Marske, near Richmond, apologised to magistrates in Northallerton for the offence of not disposing of the 22 sheep carcasses on his 2000-acre farm, saying: "I didn't realise that I was getting old."

He pleaded guilty to 22 charges of not disposing of animal carcasses quickly enough, in a prosecution brought by North Yorkshire trading standards.

An inspector visited his farm after a complaint from a member of the public who noticed a dead sheep had been lying in a field belonging to Mr Lynas for some time.

The rest of the sheep carcasses were discovered during an inspection in June last year. It was estimated that some had been there for over a month.

Simon Catterall of Jacksons Solicitors, mitigating on behalf of Mr Lynas, said: "The area of land he farms isn't on the green fields of Stokesley, it is rough moorland, just short of 2,000 acres. It is poor quality land and has a steep gorge in the middle.

"There are 12 miles of stone wall and it is tough even at this time of year, let alone in the winter. This incident took place towards the end of lambing season. He keeps 750 ewes up there and they are very much left to themselves during lambing, not like on a farm where the stock is easier to manage and close together.

"There is dead stock arising from lambing and at this time of year they suffer from fly strike and they can eaten very quickly."

Mr Lynas, whose flock of sheep has won prizes at the Yorkshire Show, and 'fetches top prices' at the marts in Leyburn and Hawes, was born at the farm and left school at 15 to help his father.

"He recognises it is a younger man's game," said Mr Catterall, and said Mr Lynas' son would be taking over.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £500 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.