THE first spades of earth marking the start of a pioneering £110,000 scheme to improve the Exmoor farming community’s healthcare, were dug at a Cutcombe Livestock Market ceremony last week.

A bespoke new Exmoor Rural Health Hub (ERHH), planned to be completed next March, will replace the temporary existing portable cabins to boost NHS rural health care.

The facility, with three consulting rooms, will offer a range of services including mental and wellbeing screening clinics.

Contractors, ERHH charity trustees, NHS representatives, and community leaders took part in the first digging.

ERHH chairman Richard Webber said: “The new building has been funded and will be built by the charity but owned by the livestock market who will grant a long lease with a nominal rent.”