A FARMER who faces losing his home to the developers of a golf course held an auction in a last ditch attempt to raise funds.

Arnold Davenport has battled to keep Nab Gate Farm since land owner Christopher Holt agreed to sell the site to Breightmet Golf Club five years ago.

People from across Britain travelled to the farm at Stitch-mi-Lane, in Harwood, to snap up the lots.

Among the 300 items on sale were livestock, machinery, historical farm tools and a red telephone box.

There were 300 buyers, some who had come from as far away as Cumbria. But although the auction represented an opportunity for a bargain, Mr Davenport's brother, Graham, said it was a sad day for the family.

He said: "Unfortunately Arnold couldn't be around for the auction but it was very sad for everyone who was. Even though the sale went well, it still looks unlikely he'll be able to keep the farm.

"Hopefully it was enough to get Arnold relocated and help with the legal fees so far."

Mr Davenport has lived and worked on Nab Gate Farm for 45 years.

He has already lost 24 acres to Breightmet Golf Club who have plans to extend from nine to 18 holes.

But it now looks likely that Mr Davenport will lose the land and the farmhouse. He has until tomorrow to find the six-figure sum needed to buy it himself.

Bidders, who ranged from farmers to those who were looking for a garden ornament, set a frantic pace as tools and collectible farm equipment were snapped up.

The lot that drew the most attention, however, was a nine ft stone trough engraved "Memorium the gift of the Misses Wolfenden February 1897". It is thought the trough, which held drinking water for horses, was one of three that stood in Bolton town centre for much of the 20th century.

Cllr Paul Brierley has supported Mr Davenport in his five-year battle to keep the farm.

He said "It's a crying shame and a lot of the people here are very good friends of Arnold's and it's really brought people together.

"People have campaigned tirelessly and they will continue to do so. There will be a lot of opposition to whatever planning applications come through on this site."

AUCTION STATIONS: Arnold's relative Tracey Davenport with some of the items up for auction

TELEPHONE BID: Daniel Welsby tries out the red phone box which was part of the auction

OLD FRIENDS: Retired farmers Alf Mitton and Jim Fishwick watch proceedings