Barnard Castle Auction Mart raises funds for air ambulance after call-out

A DALE auction mart teamed up with a bank to raise cash for an air ambulance that came to the aid of one of its auctioneers.
Barnard Castle Auction Mart manager and auctioneer Libby Bell was flown to Middlesborough’s James Cook University Hospital by the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) after she broke her ankle during a fall last year. The ambulance touched down on the cricket pitch next to the mart during the incident.
Soon afterwards the auction marts at Barnard Castle and St John’s Chapel joined up with Barclays agricultural manager Joanne Gill to raise money for the charity service.
Ms Bell said farmers donated a pen of sheep to be auctioned at St John’s Chapel while a Christmas hamper was raffled at Barnard Castle.
These raised more than £1,600 which was matched by Barclays Bank to take the total to more than £3,200.
GNAAS representative Harriet Langston said it was a fantastic amount of money.