Farmers have raised more than £2,300 for charity in memory of a former regional daily farming editor.

Members of the National Farmers Union of Scotland’s Aberdeen branch held a stock judging and social evening in honour of Joe Watson, left, who worked at the city’s Press & Journal title before his sudden death at the age of 43 in March 2014.

Around 200 farmers from across the North-East of Scotland attended the fundraiser, with winner George Auchnie taking the Joe Watson Perpetual Trophy.

George was given the trophy by members of the Watson family, while Joe’s brother Fraser was also the winner of a football and golf competition at the event.

The fundraising total of £2,366 will be donated to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance, which was one of Joe’s favourite charities.

Joe had been farming editor at the Press and Journal since 1996 and, at the time of his death, was regarded as an authority on rural issues in the North-East of Scotland.

He was named regional newspaper agricultural editor of the year three times.