HEXHAM & Northern Marts held their opening sale for Mule ewe lambs, Suffolk and Texel X ewe lambs and store lambs at Hexham auction mart with an entry of 1,950 head.

This was a combination of the three opening sales traditionally held at Bellingham, Rothbury and Scots Gap marts and was conducted at Hexham because of Defra regulations.

Trade in the packed sale ring was brisk throughout for all classes of sheep, especially for the top class show of Mule ewe lambs presented, which were fewer in number compared to the same sale in 2000 and so fell short of buyers' requirements.

The sale average of £68.80 represented an increase of £30.13 from the same sale two years previously.

Before to the sale the show of Mule ewe lambs was judged by David Carr snr, of Highwood, Hexham.

Champion pen: R Carr, Homilton; 2 RD Archer, Carry House; 3 CG&JM Dinning, Fallowfield.

Top prices. - Mule ewe lambs: £83 Homilton, Redemouth; £80 Brownleazes; £77, £76 Fallowfield; £76 Carry House, Edlingham Newtown; £75 Rusheylaw, The Hole; £72 Birtleyshield, Garretshield, Broomhope; £71 Pitland Hills, Birtleyshields, Fairnley; £70 Garretlee, Carry House, Rusheylaw, Birtleyshield, Brownleazes (2), Broomhope.

Suff X lambs: £66 Edlingham Newtown; £64 Tone Hall; £62 Flotterton, Tone Hall; £59,£57 Dovecote (ex HB); £56 Carry House; £55 Sharperton.

Store lambs: £40.80, £36.50 (SX) Hepple Whitefield; £40 (SX) Flotterton; £34.50 (Mule) Hepple Whitefield.