A CALL for urgent Government aid for the region's hill farmers has been made following disappointing market prices.

Angus Collingwood-Cameron, North-East regional director of the Country Land and Business Association, attended last Thursday's sale of almost 13,000 breeding sheep at Hexham auction mart.

Although farmers were relieved sales had resumed, the trade for gimmers and ewe lambs was down on last year.

He said: "The hill sheep ring was particularly bleak, with some farmers only achieving 50 per cent of last year's price."

The poor trade was partly due to depressed fat lamb prices and export difficulties. Mr Collingwood-Cameron said lowland farmers may claw back some fat trade losses by paying less for replacement ewes.

However, he added: "There is no such opportunity for hill farmers who rely largely on the sale of breeding sheep."

Last weekend, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would give money to farmers affected by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Mr Collingwood-Cameron said: "It is time that he put his money where his mouth is - it needs to be done sooner rather than later."

Trevor Simpson, auctioneer at Hexham, confirmed prices were down.

He said: "It is the way the job is - the 20 day standstill is just not workable for a lot of farmers and the bluetongue restrictions in the south are having a big impact on the stock up here, especially the mule gimmer lambs."

Meanwhile, Sainsbury's wants to source, for the first time, 10,000 British light lambs a week to support sheep farmers.

Karen Schenstrom, company fresh foods director, said: "We recognise that the traditional export market for British lamb is partially closed, so we are working hard to drive customer demand for British lamb.

"Sainsbury's is committed to supporting British lamb farmers at this difficult time and offer an immediate lifeline for farmers until exports fully resume."

On Wednesday, the North-East regional livestock board of the National Farmers' Union (NFU) will discuss the financial challenges in the beef and sheep sectors. Malcolm Corbett, chairman, will give an update on the sheep sector and Graham Thompson, national livestock board member, will look at the beef sector.

A vet from the Newcastle animal health centre will speak on foot-and-mouth and bluetongue.

The meeting, for NFU members, is at the Croft Hotel, Croft, near Darlington, at 7.30pm.