A Whitehaven petrol station has been sold to a large corporate operator.

Billy Atkinson has owned the Esso-branded Corkickle Service Station for more than a decade but has decided to retire.

He has sold it in a confidential deal to a "large corporate operator" which plans to develop a hot food offering.

The sale was handled by specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co.

James Moore-Martin, senior business agent at Christie & Co’s Manchester office, said: "This site was sold confidentially and on a freehold basis. It was under offer within two weeks of the date of instruction."

The service station was sold off an undisclosed price.