A RUN-down former residential home could soon be brought back into life after it was snapped up at auction by a mystery buyer for almost double its value.

Shadsworth House on Dunoon Drive has been the target of vandals and arsonists since it was closed as an OAP home by Blackburn with Darwen Council in 1999 as part of a social services review.

But an anonymous Manchester businessman has splashed out £123,000 on the 32-bedroom home after beating off fierce competition when the property came under the hammer.

It is still unknown what he intends to do with the property but experts say it lends itself to being resurrected as a residential home or being converted into private flats.

Louise Walton, from property Manchester-based Pugh and Company's auction department, said six bidders fought hard to secure the two storey home.

She said: "The property was offered with a guide price of £65,000 to £85,000. It created incredible amounts of interest in the local community and although in need of extensive refurbishment reached £123,000 on the day.

"I think it was the vast potential the site offers that was the key -- it's a very substantial property.

"Turning it into apartments is the most obvious future use but there is no planning consent existing for that. It could also be refurbished and brought back into use as a residential home."

And councillors have welcomed the fact the rundown building could be brought back to life.

Coun Jim Blackburn said: "We'll have to wait and see what this buyer has planned for it but at least there's movement. Ideally, I'd like to see it brought back into community use."

Coun Charles Mills said: "Hopefully something will be done with it because it's been badly vandalised since it closed and it's become an eyesore.

"Let's hope this buyer does something positive with it and does not just sit on it for a couple of years and then sell it on to make a profit."

When the council sold the home in 1999, it refused to say who to, citing commercial confidentiality, although it was believed to be to a man from Birmingham.

As well as 32 bedrooms, the former home has a reception hall, three lounges, kitchen, dining room, visitors' room, laundry, hairdressing room, TV room, seven WCs on the ground floor.

On the first floor there are two medicine rooms, another kitchen, lounge, doctor's room, two bathrooms, four shower rooms and five WCs.

Since it closed, it has been monitored by a private security firm which says it has set up cameras inside the building. In 2000, it was temporarily used to house 50 Kosovar refugees.