Skipton Auction Mart hosted this year's National Beef Association's expo.

Organisers said this year's event was the biggest and best since the annual event was launched ten years ago, with a record attendance of almost 6,000 visitors, a record 155 trade stands and 23 beef breed society demonstrations.

Hosts Craven Cattle Marts said it was the biggest single event to be held at their Skipton site since they moved there in 1990.

Beef Expo also marked the start of a major push by the National Beef Association to promote top quality British breeding stock to international buyers. Over 30 overseas guests from Poland, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, France, the Czech Republic, Nigeria and the Republic of Ireland joined thousands of beef farmers from throughout the UK and Ireland.

Sue Swales, manager of Skipton Tourist Information Centre, said every single hotel and b&b room in the town was booked on the eve of the event.

Anthea Rathlin-Jones, CCM's arts development programme and events manager, said: "Beef Expo has helped raise the profile of Skipton and the wider area both nationally and internationally, also having a beneficial impact on both the local and rural economies."

"Equally, it has cemented the reputation of Skipton Auction Mart as a major venue in the north for staging events of national importance."