A 19TH Century church could be converted into a luxury home after villagers lost their fight to buy it.

Plans have been drawn up to transform the disused Methodist church, in Middleton St George, near Darlington, into a house.

The church, which was built in 1869 and still retains many of its original features, had fallen into disuse due to a lack of support and went on the market in the summer.

A group of local people wanted to buy the property, which was open to offers of more than £80,000, and keep it as a village facility. But they failed to get sufficient support.

Councillor Doris Jones, who represents Middleton St George on Darlington Borough Council, said: "Ideally, it would have been nice for the village to buy the property and turn it into a village hall for the community, but we simply could not raise the funds.

"Everyone in the village is fully aware it has been sold to a developer and that it is likely to turn into a house and I do not think anyone has a problem with that. It is just unfortunate that it could not be kept as a village amenity."

Charminster Estates Limited now owns the church, one of the oldest in the Darlington area, and plans to convert it into a house.

Company director Roy Thompson said the church, in Station Road, had a lot of potential.

He said: "We want to make it into something rather special. It is a fabulous building, which has a lot of qualities and character."

An application has been submitted to the borough council for permission to convert the church into a three-bedroomed house.

Mr Thompson said: "The plans for the house include a large living room area stretching its entire height, with a gallery running around it. All the bedrooms will be en-suite, and there will be on-site parking."

The application will be considered early in the new year.