A TOWN council has asked for highway chiefs to rethink plans to build a bus terminus in an historic market place.

Councillors at Helmsley say they do not want the shelter to be sited close to the Feversham Memorial.

The memorial was erected in memory of a former Earl of Feversham.

Town clerk John Dale said: "Our council is totally against the terminus being close to the memorial. It will ruin the appearance of the market place."

Alternative sites have been suggested, including the wide section of Bondgate, near the North York Moors National Park headquarters,.

Another suggestion is for the terminus to be located at the Cleveland Way car park, but this would result in the loss of 60 parking spaces.

"We want to retain Helmsley's market place. Such towns as Pickering and Malton don't have a bus station in their market places and we don't think there should be one at Helmsley," said Mr Dale.

The town council said it recognised there was a need for a terminus, but the market place was not the right site.

Chairman of the town council, Councillor Ken Claridge, said "We are against the shelter going next to the Feversham Memorial because it is a very attractive and sensitive area and we aim to keep it that way.

"We don't want to see Helmsley urbanised. We are asking the county council to come up with alternative plans."