THE buyer of an 18-acre plot on a farm in Tebay had to make a last minute bid by mobile telephone because he was caught in a fuel price protest in Carlisle.

Bybeck Farm, near Tebay, was up for sale at Kirkby Stephen auction mart while the fuel protests raged.

No buyers came forward for the entire 134-acre property, which included a five bedroom house, grazing rights on Tebay common and fishing rights on the River Lune, and five lots were offered separately.

One of the lots did not make its reserve price, but the remaining four were sold for a total of £334,000, including the £ 15,000 paid by the anonymous bidder caught in the protest at Carlisle on Tuesday, September 12.