A water tower close to Chester city centre has been sold at auction for more than 11 times the asking price.

The Overleigh Water Tower in Handbridge, built in 1935, had been put up for auction by BidX1 on behalf of Severn Trent Water, with a reserve price of £25,000.

In what became an intense bidding war, more than 250 bids were placed in under two hours for the time the property was up for auction on September 19.

The freehold disused octagonal water tower, constructed by the Chester Water Works Co, was ultimately sold for £280,750.

Potential buyers were made aware work needs to be done to the building on the auction site.

Proposed maintenance and improvement works by the tenant include works to the staircase, removal of vegetation to the roof, and replacement of a cable gland on the roof. The timescale for these works is yet to be arranged and the successful buyer would be advised to liaise with the tenant to agree the nature and timing of the works.

Buyers were also made aware the rooftop telecoms mast is let to EE Limited at a rent of £3,300 per annum.

It is understood that utility services including water, electricity and telecoms are available on the site, and foul sewerage and gas can be found in the public highway.

There is a separate single storey workshop building of approximately 20.80m (70 ft) x 7.6m (25 ft).

The site has gated vehicular access and to the rear the fenced boundary runs alongside Eaton Mews.