ONE of East Lancashire's biggest leisure hall has been sold for more than a quarter of a million pounds.

The Bacup Hub, which has played host to hundreds of civic events and private functions over the past 25 years, was sold for £375,000.

A statement posted on the hub’s Facebook page promised the sale would bring ‘employment and new business’ to the town.

A spokesman said: “Thank you to those people who have shown unfaltering support.”

The hub, which is based in Burnley Road, has had a chequered past, having been vandalised several times and revamped unsuccessfully on a number of occasions.

As recently as 2015 the hub was passed to a community group to manage in a bid to drum up business.

Bacup councillor Jimmy Eaton, who celebrated his appointment as Rossendale mayor at the venue in 2003, said it would be a ‘sad day’ if the hub was demolished.

Cllr Eaton said: “It’s not fit for purpose at the moment, but it would be fantastic if the new owner brought it back in for community use.

“I think if it were to go then it would be a very big loss to the community.”

Fellow ward councillor Peter Steen said: “We need more community facilities in Bacup, so it will be a shame if the hub was lost.

“I will be enquiring about the sale price however as the numbers being talked about are nowhere near what the council sold it for a few years ago.”

The hub was originally sold by Rossendale Council in 2010 to valley businesswoman Catherine Chadwick for £100,000.

In 2013 Miss Chadwick said she wanted the hub to be a success but bemoaned the fact that 'hardly anyone' used the centre.

In 2015 the hub was put on the market for £520,000.

In June that year Miss Chadwick agreed to hand the running of the building over to four Bacup business people on the proviso they would raise £400,000 to buy it from her. However it was later closed following a dispute.

It was also relaunched as The Broadwater Hall by Miss Chadwick.

At the time Ms Chadwick said: “Amicable efforts were made to try and resolve the problems but these talks fell apart.”

A buyer for the hub was found in March last year and after a number of meetings with Rossendale Council the sale went through last week.

The new owners declined to comment when contacted yesterday.