Hundreds of lots went under the hammer for the Farmers’ Charity Auction, raising over £55,000 with more donations coming in. The funds will be split between R.A.B.I, Heart Centre Cumberland Infirmary, the Stroke Unit Carlisle and Life Education Cumbria.
Around 400 lots, from livestock to tickets for X Factor Live, were donated to the auction, which was held at the Harrison & Hetherington Borderway Mart in Carlisle.
Hannah Jackson, better known as the Red Shepherdess, opened the event and had her first experience of being an auctioneer. Hannah is a first generation farmer who left Liverpool for the hills of Cumbria and has been shepherding ever since.

Cumbria committee member Gillian Potts donated six sponge cakes for the auction, which raised £380, while supporter Pat Turnbull raised £700 by offering her home for dinner for eight.
During a break in the auctioneering, a few of the event organisers offered some extra ‘Strictly Jigging’ entertainment. Four pairs performed Scottish dances in the auction hall and were judged by Hannah Jackson and MP Rory Stewart.
Georgina Lamb, regional manager for the North West, said: “The amount of support we had for this event was amazing. Committee members, supporters, and people we’ve helped in the past turned out in force – the place was packed all day!”
Pictured at the top of the page are (L-R) Nick Woodmass, Graham Holliday, Mark Bowman, Andrew Templeton, David Bowman and John Wharton.
Pictured in the middle are (back row L-R) Georgina Lamb, Maureen Hodges, Gillian Potts, Alison Wilson, (front row L-R) Laura Wilson, Nicki Quayle and Alicia Chivers.