IN deepest, remotest Upper Wharfedale, an ancient tradition continues to draw folk out on a cold, wet January night.

Once a year, the tiny George Inn in the hamlet Hubberholme becomes an auction room for an historic land-letting ceremony.

Locals gather in front of the pub's roaring fires and Christmas decorations to bid for the tenancy of 16 acres of land, owned by the church.

It is thought the ritual - held on the first Monday of the New Year - has been taking place since the 18th century.

"The poor pasture" is a steep piece of pasture land, comprising mainly rushes and thistles, about a quarter of a mile away from the George.

Auctioneer for the night is the local vicar - currently the Rev Michael Heslop - who has the responsibility of calling and noting the bids.

The real star of the night, however, is not the auctioneer but the candle.

For this is no ordinary auction - it's a race against the flame. Whoever holds the bid when the candle burns down and fizzles out gets the land.

Prior to the ceremony, a service is held in nearby St Michael and All Angel's Church where the land is blessed.

At 8.30pm the vicar officially starts the proceedings at the inn by reading out the terms and conditions.

These include keeping the fencing in good repair, capturing the moles (or paying for their capture) and not allowing sheep to graze on the land. Sub-letting is also strictly forbidden.

The sale gets off to a slow start, something which apparently isn't unusual.

This year the first nod came in after 20 minutes with a £10 offering from the George's new landlord, Barry Roberts.

The land-letting ceremony is officially under way.

One might have expected a poor attendance might due to the abysmal weather, but the pub gradually started to fill up, leaving plenty of time for anyone unfamiliar with the event to chat to those in the know.

Hubberholme churchwarden Avril Harrison said that it was believed the land had been entrusted to the church in the 18th century by the Tennant family.

Asked whether she thought the tradition would continue, she replied: "The rules and regulations of Defra could cause problems in the future. They are making so many restrictions on ownership and it could be difficult."

Apparently the event once drew in farmers from far and wide.

David Bowdin, known as Willy, who farms at Oughtershaw, has been attending the ritual since he was a boy, and according to him, numbers have waned.

"When I was younger it was packed every year. A lot of the younger people have gone out of the Dales," he said.

However the 2004 ceremony did attract some attention from further afield.

A regular walker in the area, Stuart Peacock, from Bradford, decided to finally see for himself what the Hubberholme land-letting ceremony was all about.

"There's an atmosphere that something's about to happen that's not yet happened," he said.

And video producer Mark Saville, from Leeds, was in the pub recording the ceremony as part of a history video.

He commented: "It's a very local thing and very low key. There's no excitement until that wick starts to flicker."

On Monday two main contenders for the land were soon identified - the current holder Willy and another farmer, David Charnley.

In the dying minutes of the candle, bids were passing back and forth with only the smallest of intervals.

Obviously decades of attending the ceremony and years of bidding (and holding) paid off for Willy - when the candle eventually went out his bid of £286 was successful.

With his signature on the tenancy agreement and the bid a done deal, the ceremony was officially over.

Speaking afterwards Mr Heslop said: "I feel that was a good evening with a nice atmosphere."