A meeting has been called to remove the board of a prominent Cumbrian business - just weeks after it was formed.

The battle for control of auctioneering firm Hopes of Wigton has taken another twist, with the announcement that a group of shareholders backed by former directors has called for an extraordinary general meeting to replace the current board.

It is the latest move in the top tier of the company as it battles with multi-million pound debts.

The power struggle unfolded last December when there were a string of resignations, resulting in chairman Jonathan Hope standing down.

The walk-outs followed the decision to remove leading north Cumbria accountant, David Allen, from the company's board, in his absence.

At the end of January, Mr Allen, 50, whose firm has its headquarters in Dalston, was back at the top table.

He insisted the firm had a firm future, albeit with some 'short-term' pain.

It was at this time that The Greenhill Hotel, near Wigton, one of Hopes assets, was put on the market for £950,000.

This was to help tackle Hopes debts totalling £6.6 million.

Three weeks later, the managing director of Hopes, Bruce Walton, left the company to 'pursue other interests'.

The extraordinary general meeting, which will take place on Monday, at The Greenhill Hotel, near Wigton, is seeking to remove the current board of chairman, farmer Jeff Dixon, Keith Jarman, manager at Innovia Films in Wigton, Ian Ritchie, chartered surveyor, John Peile, farmer and manager at Greystoke Estate, and David Allen.

The names put forward to stand on the new board include Chris Holmes, the non-executive chairman of food and agriculture firm Carr's Milling Industries.

Mr Holmes confirmed he would join the new board of directors if that was the "overwhelming decision of the shareholders".

"I was approached by several farmers who asked me if I would come on board and help after it was announced there would be an EGM," said Mr Holmes.

"If a new board is formed I will do everything in my power to help Hopes Auction Mart," he added.

A statement from current chairman, Mr Dixon, a director of Hopes Auction for 26 years, said the board's objective was to reduce Hopes debt and improve profitability.

"We are disappointed that these individuals have chosen to hold an EGM to change the board, when we would have preferred to work together to support our businesses," said Mr Dixon.

Shareholder, Alisdair Bruce, urged all shareholders to either attend the meeting or vote by proxy.

"But first they need to get a balanced overview. People do not realise what is going on. They need to get themselves out there," he said.

Richard Miller, representing a group of shareholders who called for the meeting, said in a letter to shareholders that it was done to 'safeguard the future of the company'.

He added that almost 90 people had backed there being a meeting.

"This gives a huge indication as to the strength of feeling in the wider community behind the call for an EGM.

Current board member Ian Ritchie, who was instrumental in setting up the land agency at Hopes, said: "We have not been given a fair crack of the whip.

"The potential directors have not put forward any business plan."

Hopes moved to its new multi-million pound auction mart premises along Syke Road about three years ago.