A FARMER has been fined £3,500 after offering lame sheep for sale at Gisburn Auction Mart. But the auction mart pleaded not guilty to the same charge relating to 35 sheep which were lame.

James Andrew Drake, 44, of Keighley Road, Denholme, Bradford, pleaded guilty to permitting unfit animals, namely 35 lame sheep to be exposed for sale at Gisburn on June 24. He was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay £1,480 costs. A trial on the charge against the mart will be held on July 3.