Turkey auction

A satisfied buyer and some of the 350 birds on offer at the Saffron Walden turkey auction, held in the Suffolk town on the Tuesday before Christmas. Thanks to a special dispensation, the tradition continues despite EU directives banning such sales. But it is in decline as more families buy supermarket turkeys. An auctions spokesman said: 'It's dying out now, but a lot of people still like to buy their turkeys this way. It has a nice atmosphere'.

(Photograph omitted)