A 168-year-old Leek silk mill has a new owner after being sold at an auction earlier this week, returning the possibility of it being converted into residential flats.

London Mill on Ashbourne Road was sold at an auction by Pugh Auctions yesterday (Wednesday 8th December) - although so far it's unclear who the buyer is.

The Grade II listed mill was first built in 1853 and has a long history in Leek, with the old mill and several others like it in the town remaining as symbolic tributes to the town's silk industry.

It is not known how much the mill was sold for, but residents have reported that the guide price for the auction lot was £250,000.

The auction lot page for the four-storey mill says the building represents a "potential re-development opportunity" with planning permission being previously granted to turn the mill into 21 office units.

However, new plans have since been drawn up to convert the historic building into 33 residential apartments, although permission for this has not yet been granted.

The lot page adds: "Planning permission was approved by Staffordshire Moorlands Council on 13th October 2016 for the change of use of a former industrial working mill to B1 (Business) to deliver a hub of 21 managed workspace units for the creative industries.

"It is unclear whether any material work was started on site to preserve this planning approval and buyers are advised to rely solely upon their own enquiries.

"Plans have been prepared for a residential apartment scheme consisting of 33 units and full plans / drawings can be found within the legal pack."