A POPULAR rural auction mart is to undergo a £500,000 expansion to cope with a 50 per cent trade increase over the last three years.

Thirsk Farmers Auction Mart has announced the ambitious scheme which Yorkshire Forward has supported with £102,000.

Based on the outskirts of Sowerby, near Thirsk, near to the A19, the auction mart re-located to the site from a town centre base in 2006.

The mart attracts farmers from across County Durham plus both North and West Yorkshire to trade in cows, sheep and pigs.

Colin Barker, auction administration manager at Thirsk, said it was hoped that the work would be completed by Christmas.

He said: "Since we moved the level of business has climbed to at least 50per cent up on where we were – it’s just fantastic."

"Our location is now a major asset 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."

Howard Keal, the Lib-Dem Parliamentary candidate for the Thirsk and Malton seat, announced the news on a visit by the Lib-Dems.

He said: "As well as attracting increases in the sale of cattle, sheep and pigs bringing in farmers 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."

The site also houses several other related businesses including Askham Bryan College and Joplings estate agents and surveyors.

Anne McIntosh, the Vale of York Conservative MP who covers Thirsk, said: "I’m absolutely delighted and it’s a real vote of confidence in the area.

"This plan is bucking the trend in a period of economic downturn and it’s a real vote of confidence in the local farming market."

Lib-Dem Diana Wallis, a Yorkshire and Humber MEP and a vice-president of the European Parliament, said: "It will provide a welcome boost to the economy of the area and underpins the importance of agriculture locally."