THERE could be three possible buyers for a tiny Aiskew building valued by an estate agent at between £15,000 and £20,000, it emerged this week.

The future of the leech house, a Grade 2 listed building beside Bedale Beck, is under discussion with the dissolution of Bedale District Heritage Trust at the 18th annual meeting on Tuesday, when concern was expressed about the property going into private hands.

Ten of the fifteen members present agreed that the trust, founded in 1985, should finally be wound up because of difficulties in recruiting new members and the mounting costs of looking after the leech house and its garden as well as obtaining public liability insurance.

Another meeting will be held on Tuesday to ratify the decision, after which the affairs of the trust will be administered by an informal group answering to two trustees.

The remaining assets of the trust, including proceeds from the sale of the leech house, will go to Bedale Museum, which shares charitable trust status with Bedale Hall management committee.

Lil Butler, acting chairman of the trust, reported a "100pc failure rate" in efforts to attract new members despite an open meeting to which other groups in Bedale were invited.

The employment of a professional fundraiser, using half of an anonymous £1,000 donation made specifically for that purpose, was described as "a total flop" by treasurer Paul Megson.

Prof David Kirby, the secretary, said it had also become clear in the second half of last year that the acting chairman felt unable to continue beyond this year's annual meeting. Prof Kirby added that he and Mr Megson were intending to resign, having served for a reasonable time.

Mrs Butler said a private bid had been made for the leech house at a figure considerably less than that quoted by an estate agent. A voluntary organisation had also shown interest and a solicitor acting for the heritage trust had approached Hambleton District Council to find out whether it would be willing to acquire the asset.

Mrs Butler suggested that there would be two months in which to find a buyer at the estate agent's price, and if that failed a "realistic" figure would have to be accepted.

The trust also owns the Curlew, the prototype car associated with the legendary Wensleydale character Kit Calvert. Prof Kirby said the carriage museum at Aysgarth might be interested in displaying the car if it were restored as a standing exhibit.

Prof Kirby told the annual meeting: "The cost of maintaining the leech house and garden, even at the very reasonable charges of the present gardener, is high because of the time and labour involved, added to which insurance costs are considerable and likely to increase.

"The trust does not have a wide enough membership to be able to pay its way indefinitely on current income or to widen the scope of its activities.

"The problem of recruiting additional members and finding new officers is now immediate and crucial."

Retired head teacher Margaret Petty, a founder member of the trust and a voluntary museum worker, said after the meeting: "It's a very sad day but I could not see any other way. Younger people are not coming forward."