TOUGH new Government legislation is threatening the future of a Northumberland mart and the livelihood of farmers.

For many years, the Thursday sale at Acklington mart has tied in with other marts in the area to ensure consistent supplies for buyers and help farmers get the most competitive prices.

Changing the sale day would severely disrupt the established buying pattern and is not a viable option, but the mart has warned that enforcement of the Government's new Animal Gatherings Act will make it impossible to carry on with Thursday sales.

Most of the livestock sold in Thursday's dedicated slaughter market - often upwards of 2,000 sheep and 70 cattle - has been kept over for the important Monday morning kill. Acklington invested about £42,000 on purpose-built lairage solely to meet that demand.

But new legislation restricts the gathering of animals in livestock marts to a maximum of 48 hours, strictly stating that every animal must be removed by the end of that period.

Defra has granted Acklington a three-week extension to keep livestock on the premises until Saturday afternoon, ready for Monday slaughter, but auctioneer Colin Smith warned that, unless the extension was made permanent, the consequences for farmers could be disastrous.

"The loss of the Thursday market would put severe restrictions on local farmers doing business and making profit, and ultimately we could quite easily see the end of the auction mart," said Mr Smith.

The NFU supports the mart and is in contact with the Livestock Auctioneers' Association, the marts' lobbying organisation.