Positive response to new machinery and plant sale

Auctioneers Halls are delighted with the enthusiastic response from sellers and prospective buyers to their first collective sale of tractors, agricultural machinery, plant and equipment at Shrewsbury Auction Centre next Friday (February 6).

The company believes the new collective sale, which will be held every two months, is ideally suited to the Auction Centre, which has modern, covered facilities and a more central location close to the motorway network.

Around 800 lots of plant, tractors, agricultural machinery, 4 x 4 vehicles, ground care equipment, tools and sundries will be going under the hammer at the first sale.

"Entries have been received from across Shropshire and surrounding counties and the sale has attracted interest from as far away as Ireland and Europe," said Tom Jones, who is managing the sale with John Rossiter.

"We are very pleased with the response from both sellers and buyers and the quality of entries is very good. There is a selection of lots to appeal to a wide cross section of buyers, with a particular emphasis on plant.

"It is particularly pleasing to see many long established customers returning to the sale, which we plan to develop into one of the best in the country.

"Shrewsbury Auction Centre gives us the valuable option of holding sales either outdoors or indoors in inclement weather and there is plenty of space on the 14-acre site.

"It is also perfectly located close to the motorway network and has the advantage of having a hotel nearby."

Halls previously held quarterly collective sales at Forton Airfield, Montford Bridge for nearly half a century. "We felt the time had come to upgrade and regenerate our sales to reflect the current demands of the machinery and plant industry," explained Mr Jones.