THERE’S a new face among the stock pens at Worcester’s weekly livestock market. Giles Drew has joined auctioneers McCartneys as a rural professional and trainee auctioneer.

He’ll deal with all rural matters from land management to diversification projects and will also gain experience as an auctioneer in the market, which sells cattle, sheep and calves and lies on the eastern edge of the city at Heath Meadow off Nunnery Way.

“We are delighted to have Giles on board,” said Clive Roads, McCartneys’ partnerin- charge at Worcester Market.

“He’ll be straight in at the deep end, doing all types of rural professional work as well as auctioneering. But I’m sure he’ll rise to the challenge.”

Giles, who is 23 and gained a degree in rural enterprise and land management from Harper Adams University, grew up in Cheshire, where he worked on farms and kept his own stock from a young age.

In 2003 he won the title of Cheshire Young Farmer of the Year.

“I’m really looking forward to my new role,” he said.

“I’m keen to put my training into practice and gain further valuable experience at a busy market.”