Diana visits expansion at Thirsk Auction mart

9.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 26th May 2009

Yorkshire and the Humber Liberal Democrat MEP, Diana Wallis, and Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate Howard Keal today (Tues) welcomed a £500,000 investment in Thirsk's popular auction mart.

The duo called in to meet farmers and the team behind the business, which has been going from strength to strength since it relocated from the centre of town three years ago.

Diana, a vice president of the European Parliament, said: "It is fantastic that Thirsk Farmers Auction Mart is expanding with a major new extension which will enable it to deal with even more animals.

"It will provide a welcome boost to the economy of the area and underpins the importance of agriculture locally."

Howard Keal, Thirsk and Malton Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate, said: "The auction mart has massively increased its trade since moving to the out of town site and is investing significantly in the future.

"As well as attracting increases in the sale of cattle, sheep and pigs bringing in farmers from as far afield as Whitby, Richmond and Leyburn, it has diversified into hugely successful areas such vintage, garden and furniture sales.

"It makes for a very strong combination at its base in Thirsk Rural Business Centre and provides a model example of making the most of its new location for farmers and the wider community."

Auction Administration Manager Colin Barker said work was now being started on the new extension that he hopes will be open by Christmas.

"Since we moved out of the town centre three years ago the level of business has climbed to being at least 50% up on where we were at that time - it's just fantastic."

"Our location is now a major asset, we are at the confluence of the A168 and A19 and when a wagon leaves here it doesn't have to go through the middle of town.

"With the increasing level of business we are moving from being a local up to a regional livestock market as well as diversifying into non agricultural activities."

(Photo shows Howard Keal, Tony Thompson, auctioneer, and Diana Wallis in one of the main rings at the Thirsk mart)