IT WAS good to see animal trailers queuing to get into the mart again and to hear the cattle and sheep in the their in the pens.

Somehow, Masham Mart had come to life again in spite of the damage and graffiti that vandals had caused to many parts of the buildings since it closed in the autumn.

The café had come to life too, and the chatter was cheering to hear.

Ben Atkinson, the auctioneer, was walking in among the pens studying the animals before the judging. There was a good selection of store cattle, with some Limousin, Belgian Blue crosses and beef Shorthorns from the surrounding area; and in spite of it being early for sheep sales with lambing not quite over in this area, there were some sheep for sale.

Bert Verity was the judge and he selected Andrew Scott Paul's Belgian Blue bulls for the championship; reserve went to Mr Croft from Jervaulx. David Lister paid the top price of £750 for a Belgian Blue cross steer belonging to Mr Croft.

There was a big crowd watching the whole sale and it also attracted a number of keen photographers.

Credit for the organisation on the day must go to Amanda Croft, who managed the whole sale without a computer.

The future of Masham Mart still looks doubtful, but those there would dearly like to see this local facility remain.