A COUNCILLOR said he would lie down in the road if necessary to stop anyone taking away Newton Abbot livestock market.

Cllr David Corney said he would take the desperate measures because Newton Abbot was a market town and it would be nothing without it.

There were also fears from Cllr Mike Ryan that moving the market out of the town would be the death knell of Newton Abbot.

It was vital it remained where it was, but a revamp might be the answer, Cllr Ryan told a special meeting of Newton Abbot Town Council's Finance and General Purposes Committee, on Wednesday.

On a proposition by Cllr Reg Wills, councillors agreed to set up a fact-finding working group to listen to the arguments and report to the council.

The special meeting was called to hear the views of the market's auctioneers, following Teignbridge Council's recent bombshell that it is reviewing the future of the market.

A consultant suggested one option would be for the district council-owned market – the lease to the auctioneers runs out in 2007 – to move out to make way for retail development.

Members also maintained the district authority's timescale – a final decision is due to be taken by the executive on June 14 – is unrealistic, and are requesting town council representatives sit in on Teignbridge interviews.

Auctioneer Clive Morgan, of Rendells, said the market had existed for hundreds of years and while traditionally for prime stock, since foot and mouth it had become an important store cattle venue, serving Teignbridge, the South Hams and Dartmoor.

'It is a facility used seven days a week and is an extremely valuable asset to the town,' he said.

Mr Morgan said it interacted with the pannier market, attracting farmers and visitors who not only used the shops, but other professional businesses in the town.

'Newton Abbot is almost unique in being one of the few town centre markets remaining.

'There is a need for a continuing and long-established livestock market in the town,' he said.

Paul Griffin, of Sawdye and Harris, said the government had closed the livestock auctions in 2001.

'We received no compensation, but we are still here,' said Mr Griffin who pointed to the spin-off benefits of people attending the market and sales, and clearly the town would suffer if it was closed.

Cllr Ken Lewis, chairman, said you only had to look at the number of people in the town and the fight for car parking spaces on a Wednesday, compared to other weekdays, to see the market's attraction.