MORE than 400 buyers from around the UK and Ireland packed a South Lakes sale ring for a major auction of 'immaculate' farm machinery and contracting equipment.

The dispersal sale on behalf of estate of the late Stuart Wilson, of Kirkham near Preston, was held at J36 Rural Auction Centre, Crooklands, on Saturday.

The star item was a Claas Jaguar 960 forager, which made £94,000.

A fleet of Claas tractors also shone with an Arion 640 (2013) making £48,800, an Axion 820 (2009) £40,500, an Arion 630C (2013) £31,800 and Arion 620C (2013) £30,500.

A spokesperson for North West Auctions said: "The machinery was in immaculate condition and attracted buyers from throughout the UK and Ireland. Over 400 buyers registered on the morning of the sale and auctioneer Matthew Probert was greeted by a sale ring packed to capacity of eager bidders."

The sale commenced with 100 lots of workshop tools and equipment which was 'very clean and in original boxed condition'.

All items sold to an exceptional trade topping at £460 for a blue point socket set, £320 Mini Arc Welder, £320 Minibolt Moisture meter, £260 Heiniger cordless clippers, curved spanners £60 and a Sthil M5440 Chainsaw £400.

Grassland machinery saw a set of Claas 3100C and 3100FC sell for a combined price of £16,050, Volto 1050 tedder £12,000 and 2800 rake £10,700. Trailers sold to £7,600 for a chieftain dump trailer, £6,100 and £5,800 for 30ft fraser flat bale trailers with a silage trailer selling for £3,600. The Claas Rollant 455 Uniwrap with only 1185 bales on the counter sold for £27,500 to an Irish telephone bidder.

The first one sold being a John Deere 2650 2wd (1990) in very good condition sold for £6400. The John Deere 3800 Telehandler (2002) achieved a final bid of £14,800 from a Lancashire Dairy Farmer. The fleet of Claas tractors were undoubtedly the highlight of the sale which saw an Arion 630C (2013) £31,800 Arion 620C (2013) £30,500 Arion 640 (2013) £48,800 and Axion 820 (2009) £40,500 with the sale concluding with the Jaguar 960 forager reaching a final bid of £94,000.

Following the dispersal sale a selected entry of included items were offered for sale which included a MF 40RS Combine (1996) selling for £12,000 followed by a MF6270 £9500, Mengele 530 Square baler £5,000, Abbey 1600 tanker £3,400 KTWO Rear Discharge Spreader £3300, Shelbourne Feeder £3000 and GE Livestock trailer £2000.