A TOP bid of 15,000gns sent temperatures soaring in a packed sale ring at the Suffolk Sheep Society's National Show and Sale at Worcester.

John Sinnett's shorn ram from the Stockton Flock, one of the closest vendors to the sale, satisfied the critical criteria of purchasers father and son Kenny and Barclay Mair, Aberdeenshire, who said: "He's got a good carcase, good skin, plus the finer points of the Suffolk breed thrown in."

Judge David Calvert described the show classes to be "tremendous right through," adding: "The Suffolk is the breed of the future, it is better fleshed than a few years ago and the head is not so coarse. I think we will see a lot of commercial men return to the Suffolk."

With a third of all vendors enjoying averages in excess of 1,000gns and the sale average up £200 from last year to £1,315 the mood was upbeat.

Clive Roads, of host auctioneers McCartneys, said: "The Suffolks have enjoyed a buoyant trade with good entries and good results. The trade shows the commercial industry is confident in the breed and the finished lamb prices."