CAMPAIGNERS hopes of saving a much-loved wildlife corridor have been dashed after the land was sold to a mystery buyer.

The area of land next to Leverhulme Park – known as the Cutting – was due to go under the hammer at an auction, held by Edward Mellor, in Salford on Monday.

Members of Bolton North East Wildlife Trust (NEWT) and Darcy Lever residents were optimistic Bolton Council would make a successful bid for the land to secure it for future generations.

Their campaign had gained the support of Breightmet councillors John and Lynda Byrne and Debbie Newall.

And their hopes were raised when group member Natalie Yates received a text message from Cllr Byrne on Saturday confirming council leader Cliff Morris intended to put a bid in before the auction.

But they were beaten to it by another buyer, whose pre-auction bid was accepted on Sunday.

There were hopes of a reprieve on Monday when rumours circulated that the sale had fallen through, but they proved to be misplaced.

Campaigners urge Bolton Council to save The Cutting, next to Leverhulme Park, from development

Ms Yates, treasurer of Bolton NEWT, said news of the sale had come as a huge blow to campaigners.

She said: “I actually spoke to Edward Mellor and asked if somebody was to put an offer in would they accept it, and they said yes. I went back to the council and said we need to put an offer in, but it never happened. It looks like we missed the boat.”

Ms Yates continued: “It’s absolutely devastating. My hope is that the council will go to the new owners and say ‘we will buy it off you.”

Jasmine Renold, secretary of Bolton NEWT said she also hoped the council would step in to buy the land off whoever bought it at auction.

And she added that campaigners would ‘never give up’ their fight for the land.

She said:”For 30 years no application for planning has been approved, so we are going to go down that route. We will object to any planning application that comes in, and that has worked totally in the past, because it’s such a wildlife spot.”

Cllr Sean Hornby, who represents Little Lever and Darcy Lever admitted the news had comes as ‘a blow’, but added that the land has been bought before but never developed due to he logistical difficulties of doing so. Bolton Council did not wish to comment at this stage.