THE farming community around Bentham has raised almost £14,000 in just a few days in celebration of the auction mart's centenary.

The cash will go towards the North West and Yorkshire Air Ambulances and other charities.

A special centenary show and sale of livestock last Wednesday included 35 newly calved dairy cattle, 116 calves and a record entry of 4,422 prime and store sheep. The sale also included a charity auction of livestock where farmers donated 63 lots of cattle and sheep which raised £2,393.

A further charity sale took place at Bentham Auction Mart's centenary dinner dance on Saturday, which raised a further £8,470. Among the lots were a share in the auction donated by Richard Turner, which went for £2,400, and a photo collage of the mart donated by the auction which made £1,100.

Further donations were made to make a total of £13,780 and more donations are expected to swell the total further.

Auctioneer Stephen Dennis, of Richard Turner and Son, said: "Farmers really rose to the occasion and showed their generous natures which they are rarely given credit for."

Bentham Auction Mart was founded 100 years ago by Richard Turner - grandfather and great grandfather of the current father and son, both named Richard Turner, in charge of the auctioneers, valuers and land agents business of the same name.

Bentham and District Farmers' Auction Mart Co Ltd was incorporated on March 20 1903. Richard Turner died just eight months later and his son, also Richard, became a director.

The auction has thrived over the years. It was originally built to accommodate 30 cattle and 200 sheep, but these days normal sales number 1,250 cattle or 1,200 sheep. It has recovered well from the foot and mouth crisis and is now doing better business than before the disease struck.

Mr Dennis said: "We have been celebrating the past, but our future looks extremely bright."

Bentham Town Council paid tribute to the auction's fundraising activities this week. Coun Gareth Adams said: "I think we have had an excellent week in Bentham with this and the autumn festival which was a great success."