THE old Farnworth Job Centre has been sold at auction for a sum of £350,000 — £110,000 more than it was originally priced.

The former service in King Street closed last year as part of a Government initiative to merge 68 smaller job centres across the UK.

And, following persistent questions about its future, the 1,000 square foot, two-storey vacant property in the town centre was sold at the auction held by Pugh Auctions at the AJ Bell Stadium on Thursday.

It was originally listed at £240,000.

Paul Thompson, managing director of Pugh Auction House, said: “The former job centre is a landmark building in Farnworth and is in a very convenient location at the heart of the town centre and within an established network of local businesses.”