HARRISON and Hetherington this week announced new marketing arrangements to give greater flexibility to clients.

From January 1, all its sale centres will operate under general market licence whereby the six-day standstill rule is adopted, owing to ongoing Defra regulations.

Since August 1, markets have had to work to the new 48-hour market rule which only permits animals to arrive, be sold and despatched for each sale within this time period before the next gathering is allowed to take place.

It involves changes in the sales calendars at Harrison and Hetherington's ten centres, including Borderway Carlisle, Kendal, Kirkby Stephen, Lazonby, Middleton-in-Teesdale and St John's Chapel.

At Borderway, the busiest centre, the changes will mean that the store and weekly sheep sales will be held each Monday, with the exception of special breeding sheep sales in August and September. Beef breeding cattle sales will be held monthly on Fridays, as will pedigree and special sales of cattle.

The company is also exploring alternative ways to help alleviate the restrictions of the six-day standstill rule.

"Holding the prime and store sheep sales on the same day will mean that vendors can also buy, giving more flexibility to their livestock marketing patterns," said David Pritchard, farmstock operations director.

The new arrangements will help H&H's markets to meet the regulations and in particular, the 48-hour market rule, with the exception being for special shows and sales.

Copies of the new 2004 sales calendar will be available from mid December from all H&H centres or by telephoning Borderway on 01228 590490