PROTESTERS relentlessly fighting to stop the proposed closure of Ashburton Fire Station were out in force twice over the last few days.

Crowds of unhappy placard-waving residents – including the Grim Reaper – marched through the town centre ahead of a public meeting at the town hall on Friday evening.

And vexed campaigners were back in the moorland town on Monday as fire chiefs staged a drop-in consultation event at St Lawrence Chapel.

Some 200 residents flooded the town hall for Friday’s meeting where some of the area’s firefighters gave a presentation and answered questions.

Mayor and firefighter, Don Distin, said: ‘We had a really good turn out with 100 people taking part in the march and another 100 waiting for us in the town hall.’

Bosses at Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service have earmarked Ashburton’s station – and seven others in the two counties – for closure as part of a multi-million pound saving scheme.

But Cllr Distin reckoned the fire service received some £155,000 every year from residents in Ashburton through council tax – and it costs just £100,000 to run the town’s station each year.

READ THE FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER.