A new auction market record price of £900 was set for calves at Gisburn Auction Marts’ Christmas rearing calf show and sale on Thursday.

It beat the previous record of £675 set by Colin Whitelock, of Gargrave, in May.

The new record holder was a six-week-old British Blue bull calf, from Stephen Fawcett, of Drebley, which had earlier in the day picked up a first prize rosette in the British Blue Bull class and the overall champion calf award.

It sold following a flurry of bids to beef farmer Malcolm Campbell, of Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

“We knew this calf was special, but we never expected him to achieve a record- breaking price,” said Mr Fawcett’s daughter, Sammy, who showed the calf.

Next best in the bidding stakes was the first prize British Blue heifer, again belonging to Mr Fawcett. This time, the hammer fell at £530 to Malcolm Bayes, of Lockington.

Roger Vickery, of Billington, achieved £470 for his British Blue bull calf – unplaced in the show ring – selling to John Swann, of Little Ouseburn, who also purchased the reserve champion and second prize British Blue bull from AA & E Critchley & Son, of Hutton, at £460.