Newton Abbot town councillors are 'coming to the people' in an innovative scheme to get more residents to have their say in the way things are run.

Fed up with too few people attending the annual town meeting, traditionally held in the evening at The Avenue Church hall, councillors want to set up stall in the daytime in Courtenay Street instead.

The hope is that by being in the thick of it those people who might otherwise never take an interest in local government could gain an idea of what the authority does.

A quiz or questionnaire, perhaps with prizes, could help identify topics residents felt the council should be making its priorities.

The idea is the brainchild of mayor Cllr Colin Parker and town clerk Phil Rowe.

Cllr Parker told the monthly meeting of his authority on Wednesday night: 'We are taking the town hall to the public.'