Closing date set for Peter Pan house bidders

Moat Brae closed its doors last month as a children's literature centre

A closing date has been set for potential purchasers of the historic mansion which helped to inspire JM Barrie to write Peter Pan.

Moat Brae in Dumfries - which was operating as a children's literature centre - was forced to close last month.

The trust which ran it blamed poor visitor numbers and reduced funding for the move.

The property was put up for sale and a closing date of 12:00 on 3 October has now been put in place.

The Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust (PPMBT) announced the closure of the building last month - about five years after it reopened after a multi-million pound overhaul.

It said it had been losing money for an "extended period".

A number of funding organisations recently voiced their concerns about the closure of the site and the fate of the building.

They said the hoped that a positive outcome could be achieved and a use found for the impressive sandstone structure.

Anyone interested in purchasing it now has until early next month to submit a bid.