FURTHER fears have been raised about the impact of the proposed hill farming allowance scheme.

The North Yorkshire Moors Quality Sheep Association, made up of farmers who live and work in the North York moors national park, has written to MAFF expressing concern about the planned scheme.

"It will be disastrous for the moors," said Mr George Allinson, chairman. "If sheep go off the moors I think it will be worse than if there was more grazing."

He said many of the typical smaller farms would be hard hit financially, losing up to £3,000 a year in payments, which many could not cope with.

The association has a membership of about 50, with new members joining and a few leaving as they quit farming.

l The association holds its first major sale of the season at Stokesley tomorrow when up to 2,000 Mule gimmer lambs will be sold. On September 20 a further 1,500 Mule and Masham gimmer lambs will be sold at Fadmoor.

The quality of the sheep is assured and each lamb is tagged, giving buyers guaranteed traceability back to the farm of origin.