A farmhouse and barn nestling in some of the most picturesque countryside in the area was sold at auction for more than twice its asking price. Haw Farm, in 15 acres of land at Swartha, Silsden, sold for £240,000 to a Silsden Family.

About 250 potential buyers packed into Steeton Hall for the auction on Wednesday, held by agents Dacre Son & Hartley. Guide price for the small two-bedroomed farmhouse and barn had originally been between £100,000 and £120,000.

Ian Bradbury, Dacre's associate director, said: "We were surprised by the level of interest. I've done this job for 17 years and I've never known a hall so full.

"We originally put a guide price of £120,000, but there was such a huge level of interest in the weeks before the auction, we revised it to £150,000."

The house was originally owned by Jenny Cutter, who recently died in her 80s.