FARMER Adrian Johnson has good cause to celebrate today, because he is the first in the North of England to be allowed to sell a bull outside the country, following the foot and mouth crisis.

Prize 18-month-old Pyramus, from Adrian's Clarence House Farm at Yearsley, near Easingwold, may only be going to Scotland, but he is nonetheless a landmark for local farmers.

Pyramus, a pedigree Aberdeen Angus, is to be auctioned for breeding in Perth next week, after agriculture ministry DEFRA granted Adrian a special licence. He is number 100 on the lot list, and the first not to hail from Scotland.

Adrian told the Evening Press: "It's a bit of a milestone, and I think, from a farming point of view, it wants recognising, given what we all went through with foot and mouth.

"There have been some auctions within Yorkshire, but nobody has been able to move animals for long distances, especially not across the border. It puts a bit of optimism back into things, I reckon, so we're really pleased."

Adrian's business was plunged into crisis during the foot and mouth outbreak. Prohibited from moving his animals, the number of cattle on his farm rose and rose.

At the same time, his animal artificial insemination business was also shut down for a period of six weeks.

He hopes Pyramus will fetch a good price, but he said: "I'm just glad we can move again."

Updated: 11:29 Monday, February 04, 2002