SMELLY, noisy and dangerous - just some of the words used to describe Darlington's cattle mart by its neighbours.

Escaped animals from the site in Clifton Road, near the town's main railway station, are also a matter of concern.

But a campaign for a new out-of-town complex, led by councillors Cyndi Hughes, Glen Reynolds and Joe Lyonette, could signal the end for the existing 125-year-old site.

If the plan goes ahead, the site is expected to be sold for housing - although some residents last night made alternative suggestions for a play area or a new car park.

Margaret Campbell, who lives in Clifton Road, said: "I would love it to move. The congestion down here on a market day is terrible and dangerous.

"When the wagons park on the road, buses cannot get past."

Sarah and Karl Oatley, who have two children, have wanted to see the back of the market since they moved to the road nine years ago.

Mr Oatley said: "It would be a god-send to see it move. They start bringing cattle in at around 5am with big lorries coming down. With the speed bumps, the big lorries just rumble. It is not an ideal place for a cattle mart."

His wife added: "It is getting worse and worse - it's not funny any more."

Joanna Collett, 63, said she had been covered in slurry by passing wagons and added that, on occasions, animals had escaped from the site. Once, a bull was shot.

Jocelyn Wood said: "When I bought this house 17 years ago, we were told it was going within five years. It should have gone ages ago.

"Housing would be fine. I would prefer it not to be used as a huge car park for the station, but anything else would be fine."

Stuart Lindsay, 42, who has lived in Clifton Road all his life, had a different view.

He said: "The market does not bother me. I have lived around here for 40 years and it has never bothered me."

Ernest Baker, of nearby Waverley Terrace, who used to drive a cattle wagon, was also unimpressed by the potential move.

He said: "It has been here since we were kids. Housing would make it worse because car parking would be lost and the parking is already bad."