North Wiltshire District Council is in a race against time to save Chippenham's livestock market, according to executive member for regeneration Coun Christine Reid.

Unless a new site is found to replace the one in Cocklebury Road, Wiltshire could lose its only livestock market, which would lead to an increase in farmers' costs and animals suffering longer road journeys.

"This would be a serious blow to the beleaguered farming industry and animal welfare," said Coun Reid, who is also a Regional Development Agency board member.

She said the cattle market would have to leave its current site to make way for the £11.6 million Wiltshire Record Office and Heritage Centre.

The record office will occupy only part of the site, but the market will lose some administrative buildings and some concrete hard standing for cattle.

"It would be extremely difficult for the market to operate," said Coun Reid.

So far, the only alternative proposed by Berkshire-based developer Frogmore-is opposite the recycling centre in Stanton St Quintin.

"But that's a green field site and the government would have to allow an exception to the planning laws," said Coun Reid.

"So I've brought the matter up at the RDA and I hope to get them to encourage the Government Office for the South West to look favourably on Frogmore's application.

"We're doing all we can but, even if all goes smoothly, the market will have to close for at least one year while the site is cleared unless it can find a temporary home."

Peter Kingwill, market director for Premier Livestock, said: "If you shut a market down it is very difficult to get the whole thing rolling again," he said.