Snowdonia in north Wales - 800 square miles of spectacular mountains and coastline - is home to one of the UK's most important sheepdog auctions - the Bala Autumn sale.

Nearly 80 dogs are on sale today, to buyers from all over the UK and beyond. With 33 million sheep in Britain, good sheepdogs are always in demand, and can sell for as much as £10,000. But today, auctioneers Glyn Owens and Elfor Morris have to battle atrocious weather. Seller Emrys Jones is a veteran of the sale. With a 25-acre smallholding, training and selling sheepdogs is an important part of his business. He hopes to get well over £2,000 for each of his dogs - Jim and Ross - at auction. His son Osian is buying today. The 26-year-old engineer who recently returned home after travelling abroad, is helping his dad with the business and hoping to buy a young dog of his own at the auction, to train up and sell later. Seller Dewi Williams also needs to supplement the income from his small farm. He's been training sheepdog Jess for eight months, and he and son Goronwy have high hopes. But how will the terrible weather affect them all? Show less