A campaign on Facebook to 'save' Newton Abbot's recycling centre contains unfounded rumour and 'completely untrue' claims, council bosses said this week.

More than 200 people have joined the Save Our Tip group on the social networking site, worried that Sita UK could either reduce or even close parts of the Brunel Road operations when it takes over in May.

Last month the British arm of the French-owned firm Suez Environmental, whose roots go back to 1858 and the construction of the Suez Canal, won the £26.5 million five-year contract to run 16 of Devon's 19 household waste recycling centres.

Many of those worried about the change have claimed the Newton Abbot resale area could be wound down and stock diverted either to Exeter, overseas or sent to landfill.