A British Blue cross heifer from Alan Barnett of Brinns, Shap, took all at Darlington Farmers Auction Mart's Easter prime cattle sale, where she not only stood champion but also sold for the top price of 362p per kg and £2077 to the day's judge, Jimmy Higginson, Co Durham.

Reserve honours headed to PJ and M P Gilhespy, Low West House for their black Limousin heifer which went under the hammer at 346p and £1923 to H Taylor and Sons.

Limousins led the sale of 80 prime bulls which cashed in at 246p, with A and D Proctor, Swarland Old Hall dominating the ring with a 755kg entry which was knocked down at 311p. Topping the per head section at £2702 was a 965kg Limousin from K and A Harker, Worsall Grove Farm.

Outwith the show cattle, steers levelled at 264p having sold to 304p for a 658kg Limousin from JL Mark, Gilly Flatts Farm, Bishopton or to £2047 for a 734kg Limousin from AG Watson and Sons, Rushford.

Amongst the heifers, a top price of £2077 and 362p was paid for the any other breed champion of the pre-sale show from Alan Barnett, to balance out at 276p.

A three-year-old Charolais from Ouston Farms, Gateshead topped the cast cow trade at 212p and £1303.

The firm also held it's Easter sale of spring lambs, which averaged 293p and judge Peter Monkhouse, Wolsingham awarded the red rosette to the Hunters of Hunmanby for their three 47kg Charollais lambs, which later topped the trade at £182 and 424p to Roots Farm Shop, East Rounton.

Amongst the prime hoggs, the whole sale balanced out at 250p with prices soaring to 335p for Beltex from WA Wardman, Yearby or to £180 for Texel tup hoggs from Ian Kirk, Nottingham.

The 329 cast sheep was led by EW Grieves of Whinney Hill with a Texel ewe making £280.