A trainee auctioneer has started his career at Leyburn Auction Mart.
Jack Pickup, aged 19, joined the mart just before Christmas and was conducting sales within a fortnight.
Mr Pickup, who hails from Guisburn, was welcomed to Leyburn by Richmond MP Rishi Sunak who called at the mart for lunch during a day of constituency engagements.
As well as learning on-the-job, Mr Pickup is studying for a qualification in Livestock Market Operations and Management at Harper Adams University. At the completion of his two-year course, which involves studying online and visits to the Shropshire university's campus, he will hold a university foundation certificate and qualify for associate member status of the Livestock Auctioneers' Association.
He said: "I am really loving life at the mart, learning my trade and I getting to know the regular characters here. I've always wanted to be a auctioneer so this is my dream job."
Mr Sunak said: "I really enjoyed meeting Jack and hearing about how he was making his way in the world. It was particular heartening to hear how he is combining work with online study at such a respected agricultural college."
Mr Pickup's boss is Leyburn mart manager Stephen Walker. He said: "Jack has made a great start with us and has fitted in well with staff and our clients."