A nursing home that caused controversy when it was closed is back on the market for £245,000.

Durham County Council was criticised of selling Holmfield House in Crook 'on the cheap' when it was sold for £68,000 at auction in Manchester and then put on the market by its new owners for more than £150,000.

The home was one of many in the county to be mothballed last year when the county council was faced with a £60m bill for upgrading the properties to meet new government standards.

Now the 18-bedroomed, Victorian property is back on the market for £100,000 more.

County Councillor for Weardale John Shuttleworth said the home was in good condition and situated in a prominent location, so should have been sold at a much higher price. He said: "The council talks about 'best value,' but this was tremendous value. It sends out all the wrong messages."

A Durham County Council spokesman said: "Anything is only worth what people are prepared to pay at the time you sell it.

"The question over the county council's conduct over this the issue has been looked at by both our internal auditor and external auditor, who are both happy the best practice was followed and the best price was obtained for it at the time of sale."