A TOTAL of 2734 entries went under the hammer at Aberdeen and Northern Marts' first sale of the season, where more than 82% of all items sold and a top price of £27,500 was paid for a 2014-registration JCB 535 telehandler.

Heavy commercial vehicles sold to £26,500 for a 2011 Scania P-SRS C-Class cement mixer, with commercial vehicles to £5800 for a 2009 Ford Transit 140 T350m.

A Stewart twin-axle bale trailer topped the farm machinery and equipment at £5500 and a Fruehauf alloy baulker trailer led the trailers, caravans and containers at £4200.

Mark Barrack, head of Thainstone specialist auctions, said: “Our first collective sale of plant, machinery and equipment of the year saw a great turnout of buyers and sellers due to the exceptional selection of items available for purchase. We are pleased that despite the current uncertainties the industry is facing, prices were high and demand was very strong. This was particularly evident in the tractors and plant equipment, light commercials and 4x4s, and trailers and caravans categories, which resulted in fantastic results achieved during the sales day.”

Mr Barrack continued: “We expect to see substantial growth in our equipment sales throughout the year, and sellers can be confident that there is ample buyer demand and opportunity to achieve strong prices at our collective auction.

LEADING prices:

Tractors and plant machinery – 2014 JCB 535 telehandler £27,500; JCB 3CX Sitemaster digger £23,000; Terex TA30RS artic dump trailer £21,500; 2011 JCB 8065 digger £15,200.

Light commercial and 4x4 vehicles – 2009 Ford Transit 140 T350m £5800; 2010 Ford Transit 115 T350L £5500; 2009 Iveco Daly 35C MWB panel van £3800; 2008 Landrover Freelander TD4 GS auto £3500.

Heavy commercial vehicles – 2011 Scania P-SRS C-Class cement mixer £26,500; 2006 Scania P-SRS C-Class 8x4 tipper £8200; 2001 Volvo FM12 8x4 tipper £8100; 2009 Volvo FH 500 6x2 artic £7500.

Trailers, caravans and containers – Fruehauf alloy baulker trailer £4200; tri-axle extending trailer £3400; Ifor Williams LM126 12x6 trailer £1700; Ifor Williams 2 x horse trailer £1150.

Farm machinery and equipment – Stewart twin-axle bale trailer £5500; Kverneland five-furrow reversible plough £5000, £4000; JPM twin-axle dump trailer £4700.