THE chartered surveyors selling Blackburn's old Northgate police station have revealed there had been plenty of interest in the Grade II-listed building.

Blackburn-based Taylor Weaver have so far run four block viewings for prospective buyers since the station was put up for sale two weeks ago.

But as yet there have been no bids - although Alex Taylor, of Taylor Weaver, said that was normal at this early stage. No price guide has been set.

Once sold, the building is likely to be turned into Blackburn's first town-centre hotel - but only once the magistrates court has moved out in 2009.

For the five years until the lease expires and the new court is ready, it is thought any buyer would rent out the remaining space in the building as offices.

A new court planned for the Preston New Road side of Barbara Castle Way should be ready by 2009.

Mr Taylor said: "We have had a good level of interest but no formal bids.

"At the moment we are doing block viewings, with a number of interested parties at once at 8.30am before the courts open.

"The types of people we have been showing around are property developers and investors."

Bids must be submitted by midday on September 1.

The Northgate premises, completed in 1912, has four floors, 15 cells, and a number of offices, totalling 52,000 sq ft.

It was vacated by police when the force moved to new £7million headquarters at Greenbank, Whitebirk, in 2003.