THE auctioneer's "gabble" came out of mothballs at Hawes on Saturday for selling poultry after a ten month enforced break as Mr Raymond Lund returned to his usual patter to sell 331 items of poultry over more than three hours.

With a packed ring of local people and visitors, he was assisted by Mrs Ann Middleton as clerk and by the company directors and manager acting as porters.

The auction mart, which has been closed since the end of February because of foot-and-mouth is used only once a week as an animal collection centre with strict rules, but on Saturday it came to life with several hundred people from near and far buying locally-produced food and goods.

About ten traders endured the freezing conditions of the outside livestock pens selling fresh lamb, cheeses, preserves, bread and cakes and sacks of potatoes. Free carrier bags for customers to carry home their purchases had been sponsored by the Countryside Agency and Yorkshire Forward, for such farming events.

Inside another auction ring were two farmers wives, Mrs Ann Harrison and Mrs Margaret Iveson, who presented cookery demonstrations and local butcher and slaughterer Martin McIntyre gave butchery demonstrations.

Free mulled wine and refreshments helped to keep the clients in good spirits and make a rewarding day for the hard work of the manager, Mr Maurice Hall, and his assistant, Mrs Liz Hird.