A Cumbrian youth hostel will be put up for sale after attempts to find someone to lease it failed.

Two parties were in the running to lease the Cockermouth building, but one pulled out and Cockermouth town council voted unanimously not to lease it to the other party.

Double Mills Youth Hostel, off Fern Bank, is owned by the council and was leased by the Youth Hostel Association for more than 80 years.

The former corn mill, which was one of the oldest youth hostels in the country, was initially due to close at the end this month.

The Youth Hostel Association decided to end its lease earlier due to low occupancy rates.

Councillors were due to hear pitches from both firms interested in taking it on at a specially-convened meeting.

Sheila Brown, town clerk, said: "The second party ruled themselves out which left us with one party.

"The town council felt that the type of business that it is would not be appropriate for that location.

"It was a hard decision for the town council to make and not one they particularly wanted to make, but will go on the open market."