FOR the past 12 months, the bells of Otley Parish Church have tolled for a solemn five minutes each Monday, remembering the farming community in the foot and mouth crisis.

The tribute came to an end with a flourish this week as the Wharfedale Farmers Auction Mart tentatively opened its gates to the first sales of cattle of sheep for a year.

Despite high winds on Friday and heavy rain on Monday, farmers gathered to buy or sell stock, see what prices were being offered, or simply to meet up with old friends again.

Those who attended the sales said the turnout was small compared to sales before the foot and mouth outbreak, but enthusiasm and confidence in the future of farming was great among many.

Askwith farmer Malcolm Spence, 63, joined the workforce of the auction mart, which has been increased to cope with the stringent extra restrictions.

He said: "It's grand to be back. It's nice to see people you haven't seen for 12 months, and to see everything going again."

He said the amount of paperwork surrounding farming, and the movement of livestock - necessary to comply with DEFRA regulations - had increased.

"The paperwork's getting worse, and I reckon it'll continue to get worse," he said.

DEFRA restrictions meant that everyone visiting the auction mart had to comply with rules on disinfecting feet and vehicles, and members of the public were kept away from the livestock pens.

Names and addresses of everyone present were taken, in case of another foot and mouth outbreak - to help trace anyone who may have come into contact with the disease, and help identify the source.

Other restrictions included the '20 Day Rule', which forbids any farmers who buys livestock from moving any other animals from their farm for 20 days.

Sheep farmer Roger Field, 55, of Marton-cum-Grafton, North York-shire, was among those selling livestock at Monday's sale.

He said: "We're all glad to be back. The prices are nothing to shout about. They could be better, but its better than nothing. You're still in the hands of the buyer, wherever you go."

Some felt that business will pick up shortly, and said the farming community will adapt to cope with the increased regulations and paperwork.

Farmer Granville Fairburn, 41, of Harrogate, visited the sheep sales on Monday as a spectator. He said: "I think things will get better in six months or so. We have to abide by the restrictions, or the auction mart would not be open today."

However, others say that while they will stick with DEFRA's rules around livestock sales, they do not agree with them.

Auction mart worker and former pig farmer, Keith Hardcastle, 57, of Darley, fears the 20 Day Rule does not realistically allow farmers to get back in business, and believes the paperwork is also excessive.

"A farmer isn't a book-keeper, he's a farmer," he said.

Not only the farmers themselves are happy to see the sales start again. Staff at the auction mart's caf are pleased to see the return of some of their one-time regular customers.

Member of staff, John Hargreaves, said: "It's great to see people coming in again, but its different to what it was before. There used to be people parked all the way up the road."

Caf owner Alison Woodhead said she believed the restrictions were keeping some farmers away.

Vicar of All Saints Parish Church, the Rev Graham Buttanshaw, said he was very pleased to hear the auction mart had again re-opened, and said the church marked the occasion with a peal of bells.

He said: "We had a flourish at 11 o'clock on Friday for the first opening. We had been ringing just one bell, but this time we rang four or five them together, to make it a bit more joyful, and to celebrate the mart opening."

A quiet prayer evening is being organised today (Thursday) by all the churches in Otley, to take place at Otley Methodist Church, starting at 7.30pm.