Investigations are under way to see if Workington's The Green can be sold to a developer.

Fencing was erected on the open land, opposite Tesco supermarket, last week.

Allerdale Investment Partnership confirmed it was in advanced talks with a company to buy The Green, but declined to name the interested buyers.

The land is owned by Allerdale council and the partnership was set up in 2014 by the authority and Lucent Strategic Land Fund to market surplus council land for development.

Allerdale council said the site, off Church Street, had been earmarked for hospitality and leisure development.

A council spokesman said: "The Allerdale Investment Partnership is in advanced negotiations with potential developers of this site.

"As part of this process initial ground inspection works are being carried out on the area.

"We are very much looking forward to finalising the commercial aspects of the deal, which will bring additional investment to the area."

It is believed that major budget hotel chains are interested in building a hotel in Workington.

Premier Inn, which is building a £9 million hotel in Cockermouth, said it was still looking for a location in Workington, but there were no firm plans in place.

Allerdale Investment Partnership was responsible for selling the land at Maryport where supermarket chain Lidl is currently building a new store.