AGRICULTURE House, the base for the Calne, Pewsey and Devizes branch of the National Farmers' Union in London Road, Devizes, has been sold by the NFU as part of a cost cutting measure.

The building was bought by the NFU in 1959, and in addition to being the base of the local branch it also housed the NFU's national computer centre as well as being the meeting place for county meetings of the NFU.

The computer centre, which has four employees, has moved to new premises in Long Street, Devizes, and three staff working in the local branch have moved to new premises in Pelham Court, London Road, Marlborough.

County meetings will be held at various locations throughout the county and smaller meetings can be held at the new computer centre.

The farming industry has gone through a turbulent time following the BSE crisis and the NFU is cutting costs.

Later this year the NFU's central region, which covers Wiltshire, will disappear and Wiltshire will become part of the south west region.

Tom Maidment, vice-chairman of the Calne, Devizes and Pewsey branch, who farms at Wilcot near Pewsey, said it was sad to no longer use Agriculture House.

He said: "Agriculture House has been there for as long as anybody can remember.

"Unfortunately in a rapidly changing world and rapidly changing industry cost cutting has to be looked at.

"The pressures on farmers are enormous with the collapse of prices across the board. Folk are desperately trying to find ways through the crisis."

The NFU has not said who the buyer of is.