A CAMPAIGN is under way to find a new location for the historic cattle market in Darlington.

Councillors in the town's Park East ward are calling for public backing in their attempt to re-locate the busy mart on Clifton Road.

Restrictions on movement of cattle over 30-months-old were lifted in January last year, leading to a significant increase in lorry traffic to the market and causing disruptions for nearby residents.

Councillors Glen Reynolds, Joe Lyonette, and Cyndi Hughes are spearheading the campaign to find a more suitable site for the Darlington Farmers' Auction Mart Company.

Coun Reynolds said: "Clifton Road, in the middle of a residential area, is just the wrong place for the sale of animals."

Disgruntled residents are fed up with delivery lorries obstructing the road and causing traffic chaos, rather than using the area at the back of the market for deliveries.

Coun Hughes said: "The delays are causing traffic chaos and making people late for work. It's not unusual for the number 23 bus to be delayed for up to 20 minutes because of obstructions.

"We've even had reports of people being hit by animal faeces and urine when the lorries hit the speed bumps."

Recent house-to-house inquiries carried out by the councillors revealed many older residents had been campaigning to get the market moved for 50 years.

Coun Hughes said: "We are going to do our best to find a solution, and are hopeful our action will make a difference."

The 125-year-old market was built on Clifton Road, near Bank Top station, because cattle were originally imported by train from Ireland, but nowadays lorries have to drive across town to reach it.

Market owner Stephen Aitken said: "I am more than willing to work with the council to get us moved away from this street. The market is busier than it has ever been and a move wouldn't affect our business."

Darlington Borough Council owns the land, but leases it to the company.

A spokeswoman for the council said: "The council is not actively looking for a new site for the auction mart, but it would be happy to work with the Darlington Farmers' Auction Mart Company on this.