A DERELICT house that has attracted vandals since it was abandoned 13 years ago is finally to be sold off at auction.

The three-bedroom house, in Whalley Road, Langho, will go under the hammer later this month after it was subject to a compulsory purchase order by Ribble Valley Council.

It has emerged that the loss of a will, made out by the last occupant, stopped the house from being sold for around 10 years.

The decision to buy the house comes after years of complaints about the property proving a magnet for local youths.

Residents have welcomed the news that the house, and its surrounding land, is finally to be put to good use.

Council bosses said they bought the house compulsorily from its previous owner, Peter Goodhill the son of the last occupant to help alleviate the Ribble Valley's well-documented housing shortage.

The house, which was built in the 1930s, has been given a guide price of between £130,000 and £150,000 and could either be modernised or bulldozed and rebuilt.

Council records show the property has stood empty since the previous occupant, widow Margaret Goodhill, died in June, 1993. But when her son Peter could not find her most recent will the property remained in her name and could not be sold.

Diane Rice, the council's legal services manager, said: "There are other empty properties that we are looking to compulsory purchase.

"In this case it appears Mrs Goodhill got divorced and ended up making more than one will.

"Her son couldn't find the will and while he was looking for it the house started to deteriorate and became a problem.

"When he found the will there were still issues about the adjacent land to be resolved."

Neighbours spoke of their relief that something was being done with the house.

Tony Hudson, who also lives on Whalley Road, said: "People have complained to the council many times because it looked so shabby and became a playground for youngsters, who loved to break its windows."

The house will be auctioned at noon on Wednesday, February 22, at Atlantic Suite, Terminal 2, Manchester Airport.