Anger at Market Drayton Mary Portas project pull-out

Two emergency meetings were being held today by residents angry that Market Drayton has pulled out of a bid for a slice of a £1million Government fund.

Local businesses, community groups and residents are hoping to put together their own bid for cash from the Mary Portas project in just five days.

The bid was halted because of time constraints and officials saying the chances of winning would be slim.

Residents have now called two meetings today to discuss a last-minute bid.

The first was this morning, with a second at 7.30pm in the Clive and Coffyne pub in Shropshire Street.

Sharon Fox-Byrne, organiser of the town's Farmers' Market, said: "Everybody can't believe Market Drayton has pulled out, we were quite upset when we heard.

"It is like the England football team saying they won't go out and play because they have no chance of winning."