THE philanthropist attempting to save the Zurbarans yesterday withdrew his £15m bid, throwing the future of the paintings and Auckland Castle into doubt.

As The Northern Echo reported yesterday, Jonathan Ruffer has become frustrated about the slow progress of negotiations since he made his bid to the Church Commissioners for the 17th Century Spanish paintings in March.

The Stokesley-born financier has withdrawn his offer and has also stood down as chairman of the Auckland Castle Project, a trust set up to convert the former Bishop of Durham’s palace into a cultural tourist attraction with the Zurbarans at its heart.

However, The Northern Echo understands that yesterday afternoon Mr Ruffer met Andreas Whittam Smith, the head of the Church Commissioners, who own Auckland Castle and the paintings.

“There is a lot of running around at the moment, trying to see what is salvageable because so many people, locally and nationally, care about this project,” said Rowena Hackwood, chief executive of the Auckland Castle Project.

“Today it looks bleak.

There’s nothing sitting in the wings waiting to go, but the Church Commissioners have not given up – it is still their building that they are trying to find a suitor for. As an individual, I have every hope that something can be salvaged.”

The impasse has been caused by conditions that the commissioners want included in the deal.

Architectural consultants were due at the castle next week, and Mr Ruffer felt unable to press ahead with such a major, and expensive, development without the conditions being ironed out. He has therefore withdrawn.

Yesterday, the Church Commissioners repeated the statement issued to The Northern Echo on Wednesday night, saying that negotiations were on going, and praising Mr Ruffer’s generosity.

It said: “We remain committed to helping to provide the best possible solution for Auckland Castle and its paintings, one that will benefit the region, town, its residents and the Church.”

The Northern Echo printed Mr Ruffer’s statement in full yesterday. In a finalised version now on our website, he strikes a more conciliatory tone, saying: “I would like to pay tribute to Andreas Whittam Smith, First Estates Commissioner, and Andrew Brown, the chief executive of the Church Commissioners, who have remained unfailingly gracious and polite, in distinct contrast to me. I apologise to both of them if I have said anything which is either unfair or unkind.”

The new Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Justin Welby, Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman and Durham County Council have urged that negotiations continue.

Mr Ruffer, who supports inner city groups in the region, will spend his £15m on further charitable works.

He said: “The Zurbarans initiative, although it has come to nothing, underlines my intention to come to the North- East to work in one of the neediest parts of the country.”