THE resumption of livestock sales at Tavistock Market moved a step closer this week when auctioneers Ward and Chowen were granted collection centre status.

Ward and Chowen's application for the status, enabling them to collect and store livestock, was approved after the firm made a series of improvements to facilities at the market to meet strict bio-security standards set out by DEFRA and Trading Standards officers.

Ward and Chowen hope to begin collection of local stock from Monday, December 10. No date for the resuming of auctions at Tavistock Livestock Centre has been set as these are still affected by Government restrictions.

'It is a great step forward for us, it means stock can be received and stored at the market, at long last we will be re-opening if the Government lifts the current restrictions,' said Joseph Hess, of Ward and Chowen.

Ward and Chowen will be holding a Dartmoor pony auction next Friday, December 14. Autumn pony sales, due to begin in October, were suspended under restrictions put in place during the foot and mouth crisis.