THE future of a lifeboat shed is still in question six months after it was bought by a mystery owner.

The RNLI lifeboat station in Riverside Road, Gorleston, was sold by Aldreds at auction on July 28 last year and the sudden appearance of a sold sign has fuelled speculation about what lies ahead for the building.

Local historian Dennis Durrant said: 'I would like the owner to preserve it. It is difficult to know what to do with it. It needs re-tiling but I don't know what kind of state it's in inside.I would have liked it to have been Gorleston museum, because we haven't got one.'

Last year he was unsuccessful in getting it listed. The building was once the base for the early volunteer lifeboatmen and housed the Elizabeth Simpson lifeboat, responsible for saving than than 400 lives up to 1939.

The station was previously owned by Martin Edwards, whose family had owned the shed for nearly 40 years.

A spokesman for Great Yarmouth Borough Council confirmed the new owners had not applied for planning permission.

Conservation officer, Darren Barker, said: 'It is in a conservation area so there's a certain amount of protection around it. The shed makes a significant contribution to the character of the area and is part of the rich maritime heritage of the borough.

'To find a use for it will be difficult. I think I would like to see it repaired and for some long term use to be found for it.'