THE roof of the sausage factory in Tavistock Pannier Market is to be repaired as a matter of urgency, councillors decided at their meeting this week.

Works superintendent Les Bennett told members his staff had done a temporary repair job at the unit where Howell's butchers manufacture sausages, but a decision was needed quickly on mending the roof properly.

'We daren't put any weight on that roof,' he said. 'We know there is a serious problem — we don't know what the actual timbers are like until we take it all off.'

Cllr Judith Williams said staff were working in 'dangerous conditions' as the leaking roof was a hazard with electrical equipment in the factory.

A slate store and St John Ambulance Station are due to be worked on as part of the first phase of the pannier market refurbishment.

Members agreed to go out to tender for the repairs 'as a matter of urgency'.