A Grade II listed building, once an activity centre for the Lancashire Girl Guides, has gone on sale 'to help financially secure the future of the organisation'. 

Waddow Hall, just outside of Clitheroe, was earmarked as one of five centres to sell as it could no longer afford the upkeep.

After a property review carried out with external advisors, their findings showed there had been historic underinvestment in the activity centres due to financial pressures.

Girlguiding say the centres are collectively valued at around £10m, and would need significant funding of over £20m to be fit for future use.

A spokesperson for Girlguiding said: "Girlguiding trustees commissioned a property review, carried out with external advisors, to consider all of the properties Girlguiding owns.

"Following the findings, trustees made the decision to sell the five activity centres to help financially secure the future of the organisation. 

"There has been historic underinvestment in the activity centres due to financial pressures.

"They have been running at a loss for some years, despite successful efforts for years to generate more business from different markets.

"The centres are collectively valued at around £10m and would need significant funding of over £20m in the coming years to be fit for future use and regrettably we cannot afford this level of investment.

"The activity centres have been used by less than 10% of our membership each year for the past decade.

"The five Girlguiding owned activity centres are currently being advertised for sale."

A special Waddow Hall Trust was set up as a charitable company with the aim of raising around £5 million to buy the centre last summer.

The 'manor house' dates back to 17th Century Manor House, and has 29 bedrooms with additional accommodation provided across the estate in two residential cottages, nine self-contained campsites with toilets and washing facilities