ABOUT 8,000 farmers are expected to descend on Weardale next week for North Sheep 2007.

Organised by the Northern region of the National Sheep Association, it will feature industry leaders, international buyers, more than 100 trade stands and 36 sheep breed societies.

The Skidmore family hosts the day at North Hanging Wells, Eastgate, on Wednesday, June 6, from 9am to 5pm.

Delegates from the European Union, Australia, New Zealand and US will attend.

Henry Lewis, chairman of the British Livestock Genetics Consortium, said there was immense interest, particularly from EU countries looking to restock and improve their own sheep sectors.

He said: "The British sheep industry is the largest in Europe. It has a dynamic breeding programme and a vast selection of breeds to offer."

Julie Sedgewick, event organiser, said: "The opportunity to offer some of our skills and resources overseas is an extremely positive move forward at a time when our industry continues to contract and that interest is accompanied by a welcome financial boost."

One new breed hoping to attract attention is the Cheviot mule, which is out of a North Country Cheviot ewe sired by a Blue-faced Leicester.

It has attracted premiums of up to £10 a head over mules out of Swaledale and Blackface ewes. Its wethers have had prime-lamb buyers paying up to £4 a head more than those out of horned ewes.

Angus Crozier has 200 at Viewly and Embley near Whitley Chapel, Hexham.

He said: "We still rely on Blackface ewes to graze the farm's heather on the hill, but the North Country Cheviot ewes have done well on the lower land.

"They are exceptionally good mothers and produce stylish lambs with plenty of shape, good tight skins and real mule character."

Seminars during the day include export opportunities, genetics, countryside management, the local impact of climate change, and sheep health.

Regular farm tours will be held and demonstrations include the British Wool Marketing Board and sheep shearing, electronic ID and tagging, the Combiclamp sheep handler system, English Beef and Lamb Executive, dry- stone walling and a sheepdog trial.