Penrith Farmers' and Kidd's (PFK) says the decision to close its Penrith site is due to its livestock business being transferred to Carlisle based firm Harrison and Hetherington.

This will give H&H control over marts including Kirkby Stephen, Lazonby and Middleton-in-Teesdale from 1 September.

Farmers demonstrated outside Penrith auction mart on Wednesday to protest about its closure, and the National Farmers' Union(NFU) has also criticised the decision.

'Secure future'

They feel they should have been consulted about the move.

From September, livestock sales will be handled by H&H at their site in Carlisle.

A spokesman for H&H, says the closure of the Penrith mart is a sad reality.

A statement from the two companies, PFK and H&H, said: "Cumbria's two largest auction mart companies have announced a business strategy which will create a more secure and sustainable future for livestock marketing in the region."

It continued: "There are no immediate plans for their Penrith site, which sits on junction 40 of the M6 Motorway."

But Gill Shearer, NFU spokesman in the North West, told BBC News Online: "This was a really strong market which was important for so many farmers.

'Key markets'

"It sold fat cattle, ready for slaughter, and it was also a prominent breeding sale market.

"It means farmers will have to travel further to an auction market in Carlisle, meaning more travel costs and other knock-on effects.

"It comes at a time of worry and uncertainty for farmers, and at the time of the key autumn markets.

"Farmers are really, really concerned that a major market in Cumbria is closing."