Torquay United have extended young Bolton Wanderers defender Mark Ellis' loan until Christmas.

Gulls boss Paul Buckle, who coached Ellis as a 16-year-old at Exeter, told the Herald Express: "You need four quality centre-halves if you are going to have any chance of doing anything.

"I am delighted to have Mark on board. It is a massive signing for us. He could easily have gone back to Bolton.

"I told Colin (chief executive Colin Lee) that I really wanted the boy, and he's negotiated the deal with Bolton.

"I said from Day One that Mark can go on to play higher. He's got a bright future ahead of him.

"He's shown what he can do already, and now he's in competition with the other three centre-halves here.

"We are going to need them all, with the demands that the winter months bring."