Dumfries and Galloway's successful Retired Farming Social Group has received a four-figure boost from the Luing Cattle Society.

At the recent society annual sale at Wallets Mart in Castle Douglas, its new chairman Mark Thomson presented the RFSG's Jill Rennie and Willie Dunlop with a cheque for £1000, raised from the Society’s raffle held the previous night at its AGM and annual dinner in the Market Inn Hotel, Castle Douglas, where Jill and Willie had given a brief history of the group.

Thanking the cattle society for their generosity, Jill said: "As the group is now independent, this donation will go a long way in helping it to develop further and enable the growing number of members to participate in more outings. We would like to thank all the members, particularly the chairman Mark, the secretary Una MacQueen and Neil McGowan who suggested the Retired Farming Social Group for the donation."

NFUS director of regions and D and G regional manager, Teresa Dougall, added: “The Retired Farming Group has come a long way in just over a year and it is fantastic to see it being rewarded by others. I recently met with Jill to discuss future funding for the group and believe there is great potential to encourage local businesses and groups to get involved and secure a long future for them.”