THE future of Ripon auction mart, which has been serving the area's farming community for more than 140 years, is in the balance and could soon be sold to developers for housing.

The site off North Road is seen by potential developers as a prime site for housing development.

A special shareholders' meeting of the Ripon Farmers' Livestock Mart Co Ltd, which owns the centre, has been called for November 29.

Chairman of the company and Masham farmer Mr Hugh Greensit confirmed they were in talks with unnamed developers.

Earlier efforts to purchase the site for new homes and relocate the mart elsewhere came to nothing.

But the latest interest by developers comes as the mart's traditional Wednesday sale has been closed for nine months because of the foot-and-mouth crisis. And it has only been ticking over financially as a collecting centre.

Mr Greensit said details of the developers' plans would be put to the shareholders. Some are believed to be keen to sell.

Mr Greensit said when the last approaches were made by potential developers the feeling was that they should try to carry on and continue offering a service to the farming community.

The mart company was started by farmers and has been trading since 1894. It is believed to have been established privately in the 1860s.

Mr Greensit said at the moment it seemed unlikely that the company would be paid enough money for them to relocate elsewhere.

"And in the present farming climate it is questionable whether there will be enough stock around to keep the mart going," said Mr Greensit.

The Ripon mart was once a major selling point for the farming community. But the foot-and-mouth crisis has hit hard.

Originally shares were held almost exclusively by farmers. But some have passed through families to people not involved in farming.

If the Ripon site does close the nearest major auction market would be at Thirsk.