Two sheepdogs have been sold at auction in Skipton for a record-breaking £5,000 each, it has been confirmed.

Rex, a 26-month-old border collie, and Ron, a 14-month-old tri-coloured sheepdog, both sold for 4,900 guineas (£5,145) at Skipton Auction Mart. The sale smashed the previous world record at an official sale, which was 4,100 guineas (£4,305) for a two-year-old black-and-white bitch, and also took place at a Skipton auction.

First to break the record was Rex, sold by Welshman Aled Owen. Mr Owen is the reigning World Sheepdog Trials champion.and has sold dogs all over the world.

And later in the day, John Bell, from Howden, East Yorkshire, one of the country’s leading sheepdog handlers, sold Ron for the same price. Mr Bell said: “Ron was a lovely young dog and he performed well on the day, so I was happy.”

Craven Cattle Marts, at Skipton, is renowned in the UK for sheepdog sales and brings many of the top sheepdog buyers and sellers from all over the country.