AN HISTORIC church which almost became a car park 10 years ago is being auctioned off so a developer can finish turning it into 15 flats.

The grade-two listed Belgrave Chapel, Bolton Road, in Darwen Town Centre, is expected to sell for about £150,000, which includes a graveyard with 300 graves.

Its owner of 10 years, whose identity has never been revealed, wants to dispose of the building before he emigrates.

He obtained planning permission and listed building consent a couple of years ago to transform the 155-year-old church. So far three of flats have been built, but the future owner will have to take on the development and build the other 12.

The future of the church has been uncertain since the early 1980s when it ceased to be a place of religious worship after it fell into a state of disrepair.

Crown Wallcoverings bought the building in 1982 with the intention of demolishing it and putting a car park in its place.

But after a two day public inquiry in the early 1990s, the Department of Environment deemed the building of too much architectural and historical importance to be bulldozed.

The current owner bought the building from Crown, and mystery surrounded his intentions for several years, although there were rumours it could become a nightclub.

Auctioneer Tony Webber, of Manchester-based Eddisons, which is organising the sale, said: "He has already converted three flats and has already done a lot of work to the roof and the windows.

"He has spent a lot of money on it but he has decided to emigrate.

"It's practically converted inside, but still needs three-quarters of building the work doing.

"The price we are quoting is between £100,000 and £150,000. The owner is being very realistic. It has 300 graves nobody visits it any more, but it must not be built on."

Eddisons have already shown five people around and expect the church to sell easily.

The auction takes place at Lancashire County Cricket Club, Old Trafford, Manchester, on April 18. Anyone interested should call 0161 831 9444.