Maryport's Royal Victoria hotel has been sold.

The John Street hotel, known locally as Knockers, was sold to a Midlands consortium for an undisclosed price.

The was named as one of Allerdale's top eyesores in 2006.

The following year regeneration company West Lakes Renaissance gave the hotel an £110,000 grant – one of the largest single grants awarded by the company – as part of a plan to regenerate the Maryport area.

It was taken over by Punch Partnerships Ltd and marketed as a place to stay, for conferences and functions.

Just 14 months later Punch confirmed that the future of the pub was "under review".

There was no permanent manager, window frames were peeling and weeds and growth had to be removed from the brickwork.

The hotel has continued to operate, however, and is a favourite local for many Maryport residents.

The West Midlands consortium could not be contacted to find out its plans for the future of the hotel.