PRIME minister Tony Blair will be receiving a special leaflet through the post - as will Conservative leader William Hague and agriculture minister Nick Brown.

For Teesdale farmer Nick Coggins has sent all three a copy of the leaflet publicising his new venture in direct selling.

And there will be no excuse for them not buying a box of his traditionally raised Lartington Lamb for the service includes overnight delivery to anywhere in Britain.

The Coggins have farmed at Low Crag Farm for 19 years and launched their new enterprise last week.

It is the result of their total disillusionment with the low prices they were receiving for their stock - at least £10 down on what they received just a couple of years ago.

Over the same period costs of production have risen as rules and regulations have also grown.

"We have always farmed traditionally and sold our lambs at market but over the last couple of years we found it difficult to reconcile the prices we were getting with the prices charged in shops," said Mr Coggins, who farms with Denis and Doris, his parents.

"The general attitude is to moan, complain and do nothing about it but I just thought nobody else was going to help, we would have to help ourselves."

And that is when the family sat down and discussed everything involved in selling direct to the public.

Farmers markets were considered but fairly quickly dismissed. "I just think they are preaching to the converted," said Nick, "Teesdale is awash with Teesdale lamb, we want to go further afield."

Attractive leaflets have been produced, featuring an impressive drawing of the farmhouse by talented amateur artist Mr George Walker, an uncle of Nick's.

And a website has been established giving full details of the farm and how to order boxes of half lamb.

Visitors to the site are told how the medieval monks of Egglestone abbey used to rear their sheep on pastures at The Crag where the farm now stands.

The Coggins have a flock of 150 registered mule ewes crossed with Suffolk and Texel rams to produce top quality meat.

The ewes are outwintered and fed on home produced high herbage hay made without any use of artificial fertilisers.

The ewes do receive concentrates one month before lambing and are housed briefly for lambing which starts at the beginning of April.

Weather permitting the lambs are turned out with their mothers on fresh grass and are fattened on that and their mother's milk.

The farm also has a beef enterprise with 40 suckler cows.

The lambs are slaughtered when they reach 40kg liveweight. They are taken to Simpson's of Cockfield who make up the standard packs - 9kgs of meat.

They include a variety of joints, chops, liver and minced breast and sell for £5kg plus a delivery charge of £9 to anywhere on the UK mainland.

The cuts weigh a total of about 9kg however the exact weight is not known until the pack is made up. If it is less than 9kgs a refund is given - if more the customer receives the extra free of charge.

"We have sent leaflets out to friends and various places throughout the country," said Mr Coggins.

"I also sent one to Tony Blair, Nick Brown and William Hague. I thought I would let them know what we are doing - I'll wait and see whether we receive an order from any of them!"

The family moved from High Force and bought the then dilapidated Low Crag farm in 1981.

Since then they have strived to improve the buildings and land.

They have entered a Countryside Stewardship Scheme which has resulted in the creation of woodlands and a large programme of dry stone wall restoration.

"We are doing about 350 metres a year and this is the fourth year," said Nick, "We have also created a permissive footpath round the farm for people to enjoy.

"I think the more people come on the farm then the more understanding and sympathy they will have towards us."

Steps have been taken to look after and encourage the wildlife. Lapwing, curlew, snipe and skylark nest on the farm and buzzards are regularly seen.

A recent survey listed more than 100 species of trees, flowers and grasses.

Mr Coggins will still sell lambs at market but will sell as many as he can direct to the public.

"It is a seasonal business and we are promoting that exclusivety," he said, "We can only sell the lambs from August through to January so our message is buy now while you can."

The packs are sent out as fresh cuts rather than frozen.

Further details are available from Low Crag on 01833 628427 or on the website at www.lartingtonlamb.com.