A FORMER care home closed down by Lancashire County Council has been sold at auction for almost twice its advertised price.

Acorn Lodge, in Nuttall Street, Accrington, was sold to an anonymous phone bidder for £645,000.

The former council-run home, which has 35 bedrooms, was listed at a guide price of between £300,000 and £350,000.

It is not known whether the mystery buyer will convert the property into flats, or demolish it to make way for a new development.

Bidding started at £250,000 at the auction, held by Pugh and Company Auctioneers at Manchester Airport yesterday.

The three-storey building is set in its own grounds and was offered with vacant possession.

The former home sits in almost three-quarters of an acre of land, and has almost 1,300sq metres of space.

It was one of the homes which prompted an outcry and a Lancashire Evening Telegraph campaign when the county council announced their closure three years ago.

The building also includes offices, two kitchens, a common room, plus medical and staff rooms.

There was no "clawback" agreement, which means the county council cannot claim a portion of the future value of the property if new owners are able to secure planning permission for the site.

Local councillors and residents have called for the building to be turned into a community centre, rather than be sold off, but the county council dismissed this suggestion.

Councillors have called for it to be redeveloped quickly.

Coun Paul Barton, who represents Barnfield ward, said last year: "We've been robbed of a valuable facility.

"It can't be left to decay and look a mess like Peel Court, Oswaldtwistle.

"Many people would have liked to see it turned into a facility for young people, or the community."