PLANNERS have given Thirsk Auction Mart permission to move after almost a century at its present site.

Hambleton district councillors gave their backing to the proposals at a meeting on Thursday.

A mart will be built on a 20-acre site, off the A19 bypass, where it meets Blakey Lane.

It will have two auction rings, covered animal handling areas, an outreach educational centre for Askham Bryan College, in York, vehicle washing facilities for animal transporters and catering facilities.

Since it re-opened in Station Road following the foot-and-mouth outbreak, the mart has gone from strength to strength, and is now one of the top three in the country.

Manager Rodney Cordingley said: "We have been working for this for two-and-a-half years now, so I am thrilled that we have got there.

"It is good news for Thirsk as well because we can do so much more with the new site. Askham Bryan College and other agricultural businesses want to be involved with the market so it is good for the area and good for the farmers."

Councillors deferred a decision on the move last month following a site visit to Craven Cattle Mart, in Skipton, on which the Thirsk development is modelled.

They approved the plans after more details about the landscaping surrounding the site were submitted.

A target date of September 2005 has been set for the premises to be operational.