TENBURY'S Round Market's Tuesday auction has been saved after a show of support for its continuation throughout the winter months.

The last auction was to have taken place on October 25 but Owen Ball, the market rights holder, has announced that it will continue until the start of December.

Mr Ball said: "There was a lot of interest at last week's auction and people asked me to reconsider keeping it going through out the winter months.

"They said there would be enough interest this year to continue so I have reserved a space in the round market for this to happen."

Mr Ball added that the auction could carry on after the beginning of December.

"The more people willing to support the auction the greater the chance of continuing through the winter months. I hope this will be a success as the more people it brings into the market the better it is."

Councillor Margaret Austin, who acts as auctioneer, said she was delighted with the outcome. "Everybody was so upset about it ending and said this cannot happen. There is definitely a call for it and people want it to carry on."

Chris Dell, chairman of the town's Tourism Group, said: "This auction is part of the town's history. It's a valuable service for local people and helps bring visitors into the town. I'm delighted that it has been saved."

The auction sells fruit, vegetables and plants and starts at 10.30am every Tuesday.