A FORMER council-run care home which sold for £150,000 at auction could be reopened by a private operator.

The facility at Dunoon Drive in Shadsworth was sold at a Pugh Auctions sale last month and now an application has been submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council outlining proposals for the building’s future.

Sandcastle Care Ltd, the applicant, is the intended operator of the property.

They are asking the council to issue a certificate of lawfulness allowing the building to continue being used as a care home.

A supporting statement submitted as part of the application reads: "The property is owned by a related company, Natabra Properties Ltd, with the intention that it be used for a care home for young persons.

"Sandcastle Care has operated small care homes since 2004 and its current operations are predominantly in respect of young people of less than 18 years of age.

"A typical home would be for up to six children, but more usually two, three or four, with carers in residence, but changing in accordance with a rota.

"In this case the home would be operated for two children."

The statement adds: "It is the applicant's case that the documents above show that the property was operated as a care home, and that that is therefore it's lawful use.

"The evidence of this, although not extensive, discharges the burden of proof on the balance of probability because the applicants are not aware of any evidence that could be weighed against it."