Torquay United have signed defender Mark Ellis on a month's loan from Premiership side Bolton.

Gulls boss Paul Buckle worked with Ellis at Exeter City before the 18-year-old moved to Bolton in 2005 for an initial fee of £90,000.

"I coached Mark in the Exeter youth team and his ability was there to see, he is very strong and very commited," Buckle told Torquay's official website.

"It was no surprise when a big club came looking at him. The two years he has had at Bolton will have helped him and I've kept an eye on him since his move.

Paul Buckle, Torquay manager: "I coached Mark in the Exeter youth team and his ability was there to see, he is very strong and very commited."

"I'm delighted to have him here and I'm sure he will enjoy being back in the area."

Ellis, a former Kingsbridge Community College student, signed a one-year professional contract with Bolton back in May.

He started more than 15 times for the Bolton reserves last season.

But his long-term future at the club has been unclear following the departure of former manger Sam Allardyce at the end of the last season.

Ellis, who was born in Plymouth, spent three years with Exeter's youth academy but moved to the Reebok Stadium after a successful trial.

He started playing football at the age of seven for Kingsbridge and Malborough United.

The imposing central defender also played for Kingsbridge Community College.