A DERELICT Flintshire house that became too much of a health and safety issue to visit has been sold for nearly £80,000.

Y Coed, in Holywell, has a new owner after it was bought for £76,000 at auction in Chester, with bidding starting at just £1.

And this is despite the fact the dilapidated house was considered so dangerous that the auctioneers refused to let anyone in to view it, for their own safety.

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But having braved entering the cottage themselves, staff at SDL Auctions, who put the house on the market, managed to produce a few photographs of the property to illustrate the scale of renovation the new owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, is facing.

Many of the personal items of the former owner have been left lying around the property.

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Rain has been constantly seeping in through the leaky old roof, damp and black mould creeping across the walls and what's left of any wallpaper bulging and peeling.

But there is hope for the cottage, especially when considering the property's location.

SDL Auctions said the cottage and its land is situated in the heart of tourist territory surrounded by caravan parks, campsites, B&Bs and beach resorts, including the popular and picturesque Talacre Beach.

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Despite the current state of the cottage, a bidding frenzy ensued at the auction which took place last week at Chester Racecourse, with the house eventually selling for £76,000.

Debs Latham, head of residential auctions at SDL Auctions Cheshire & North Wales, said: "You need guts and vision to take on a project of this magnitude but there were plenty of bidders ready to rise to the challenge and the atmosphere in the room was electric as the price kept rising.

"The site offers a huge amount of potential for development, subject to planning permission of course, and it's going to be exciting to see what happens to it now.

"It could be transformed into an incredible holiday home, offering peace and seclusion but with tourist attractions within easy reach."

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