An empty Workington church will be given a new lease of life after being snapped up by a building firm.

Woodrow Construction has bought the Trinity Methodist Church on South William Street and will convert it into social housing.

The church has been on the market for around six years, but the keys have now been handed over.

In 2008, the Methodist Church and United Reformed Church in the centre of Workington decided to merge.

They decided to make the United Reformed Church premises, also on South William Street, their permanent home.

The Rev Richard Skinner, superintendent Methodist minister, said: "We've had it up for sale for five or six years and we were concerned about the safety of it.

"We're very happy with the plans and we welcome the possibility of housing for those people who want to be living in the town.

"The hall was sold and converted into flats some time ago and that has been extremely beneficial for people."

In 2013 publican Paul Scott submitted ambitious plans to convert the church into a theatre to Allerdale council, but the plans fell through.

The church was built in around 1898 and has been boarded up.