A former children's centre and two neighbouring Victorian chapels have been saved from collapsing thanks to an auctioneer.

Charles Hanson, of Hansons Auctioneers, will be expanding his business to create an auction house on the site, in Mount Pleasant Road, Castle Gresley. This will complement his current Etwall-based auction house in Heage Lane.

The Castle Gresley centre could also be a location for filming of television-related auction and antiques programmes, such as Bargain Hunt, on which Charles Hanson often takes part.

The children's centre was closed in 2015 as Derbyshire County Council made cost-cutting measures, while the neighbouring chapels are also empty and now require urgent work in a bid to save them from further dereliction.

Mr Hanson has now been given permission by South Derbyshire District Council to change the use of the children's centre and chapels to one auction house, along with 18 car parking spaces.

It comes as the percentage of online bidding from international buyers has increased "exponentially" leading to a fall in the number of people attending viewing days and live auctions. The Castle Gresley site would be involved in cataloguing and shipping of auction lots.