WARMINSTER Town have lost their place in the Screwfix Direct League.

Andy Crabtree's side, who finished bottom of the First Division with only nine points, have been relegated back to the Wiltshire League.

Neighbours Westbury United, who finished bottom of the Premier Division have also been relegated and will take Warminster's place in the First Division next season.

Bristol Manor Farm, who finished second bottom of the Premier Division, are also relegated.

The decisions were taken at the league's management committee on Wednesday evening and the clubs will be officially told of their fate this morning. The two Wiltshire clubs had hoped the future plans of Taunton Town and Yeovil Town Reserves would safe them from the drop.

Taunton just managed to clinch the runners-up spot in the Premier Division with a 3-3 home draw with Odd Down on Wednesday night and will be promoted to the Dr Martens League next season, while Yeovil Reserves have resigned from the league.

With no new team eligible to join, the Screwfix League will be short in both divisions next season - with 18 teams in the Premier Division and 19 in the First.

League secretary Ken Clarke said: "The league had already made its views known on relegation and promotion and believe that if the football pyramid is to work properly we must allow movement between leagues.

"It is unfortunate that we will have an odd number of teams in the First Division, but there may be newcomers eligible to join the season after next."

While it was bad news for the two Wiltshire clubs, there were celebrations at Frome Town and Bath City Reserves, who were both promoted to the Premier Division.

Bath Reserves were docked three points for fielding an ineligible player earlier in the season, but still finished a point clear of Exmouth, who could only manage a 0-0 draw with champions Frome Town in their final game.