WEST Devon Meat, the lamb and beef abattoir in Hatherleigh, has been acquired by the Irish meat processor Dawn Meats.

David Fleetwood, the operations director of Dawn Meats UK, said he was delighted with the purchase.

Mr Fleetwood said: 'We are very excited to be able to offer West Country beef and lamb, which has a great reputation to our new and existing customers and look forward to working with our new staff to grow the business in Devon.

Arthur Cleave, procurement manager of West Devon Meat, said: 'We've had a fantastic relationship with Dawn Meats in continental Europe over many years.

'It's great news for our farmer suppliers of both cattle and sheep that Dawn Meats is investing in the South West of England to enhance their UK procurement network.'

The site was built in 1967 adjacent to the livestock market by Vicks, the owners of the market. The site and business changed hands several times over the following years, before eventually becoming West Devon Meat in 1991.

Dawn Meats was established in 1980 in Waterford, Ireland, and is now one of the largest suppliers of British and Irish beef, pork and lamb.

As one of Europe's largest food processing companies, it forms part of the Queally Group, Ireland's largest privately-owned agricultural business.