Rebecca GoughA redundant Thetford church which failed to sell at auction will go back on the open market.Rebecca Gough

A redundant Thetford church which failed to sell at auction will go back on the open market.

St Mary the Less, a Grade II* listed building on Old Bury Road, has fallen into a state of disrepair in recent years.

Ownership has changed several times and previous permission granted to transform the church into flats lapsed.

Its state has dismayed many living in the town but a new planning application is currently with Breckland Council.

Auctioneers at yesterday's bidding, held at Dunston Hall Hotel on Ipswich Road, began proceedings at the guide price of �150,000 but the room fell silent and any interest was evidently absent. The price then fell to �100,000 and again to �50,000 but the church failed to attract any bids.

Owner and London property developer Ron Collins has now pledged to put the church back on the market.

He said: 'I'm not surprised it didn't sell because it's the wrong time of year and the wrong market for people to invest in something like that.'