A campaign to recruit more sheep shearers after a shortfall has paid off for a Bradford wool organisation.

The British Wool Marketing Board spotted a shortage of sheep shearers three years ago and vowed to do all it could to bring more people into the trade.

Wool Board spokeswoman Liz Ambler said the problem partly arose because a large number of shearers from New Zealand came over to Britain a number of years ago to benefit from the low rate of the country's dollar in the UK.

The first thing they did was to increase the number of qualified shearing instructors. The Board, based in offices on the city's Euroway Estate, then carried out a marketing campaign on sheep shearing training which increased the number of trainees in the business.

Now a new shearing video has been produced by the Board as part of its commitment to encourage shearing training throughout the UK.

The video, called An Introduction to Shearing, features the Board's shearing manager Colin MacGregor who, as well as demonstrating shearing and foot work techniques, also discusses the preparation of the shearing area, gear and safety procedures.

The video was filmed on a small farm in North Wales and shows how a typical shed can be adapted easily to a very adequate holding and shearing area.

Last year 700 trainees gained seals of competence at all levels and this year the number is expected to exceed 1,000.

It is expected that instructors and colleges of agriculture will make most use of the new video which is available from the Board.

Liz Ambler added: "We are trying to encourage young people to take up sheep shearing and to give them the skills they need to do the job. The initial training involves getting the young people to gain their first seal - a step on the ladder to seals which show how qualified they are."

The Board is also planning other videos which will cover topics such as gear maintenance and wool handling.

For further information contact the British Wool Marketing Board on (01274) 688666.