Cemetery house sold as council auctions assets

The property was said to have "great potential"

A cash-strapped council has continued to sell off property assets to try and balance the books.

Bradford Council, which needs to save more than £175m over the next few years, is aiming to dispose of more than 150 properties and other assets to raise about £60m.

The lodge at Thornton Cemetery was sold in an online auction this week.

The three-bedroom detached property raised £130,000.

The authority was saved from the edge of effective bankruptcy at the end of February when the government agreed to grant it "exceptional financial support".

In March the council passed a budget which would save £40m but was described as "devastating".

The auction listing for the graveyard property said the stone-built house required renovation, but added it had "great potential".

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said other buildings previously auctioned included a former care home, which sold last month for £1m - significantly higher than the guide price.