WORKINGTON Town Council is one step closer to purchasing the home of a junior football club in the town - after the land became a matter of hotly-contested debate over the last few months.

​The site is currently being used by Workington Juniors Football Club and is privately owned.

Children and parents from the Workington Reds Juniors Football club lobbied the council last year to 'save their home' and buy the Ranch - after the private owner announced he was looking to sell the land with the intention to donate the sale fee to charity.

Workington Town Council resolved to purchase the land to secure the future of the Ranch for sports and community use. 

The purchase of The Ranch has become a much-debated topic in the town - with intervention over the last year coming from a number of bodies inside and out of the council.

Now, the purchase is one step closer to happening - the Mayor has announced she has signed the transfer documents that will mean the purchase can go ahead.

READ MORE: Workington Juniors ask Workington Council to save The Ranch

Workington Mayor Denise Rollo said: "It is with great relief and pleasure that after prolonged negotiations that we have finally signed the legal papers to move ahead with the purchase of The Ranch.

"Due process has had to take place and the important matter was that due diligence was fully undertaken and that the interests of all the people of Workington were protected.

"The final hurdle has now been overcome and although there was internal and external political pressure put on me to sign prior to this, I had to be assured that the council were fully protected.

"I was not going to be pressured into signing until I was satisfied that all the legislative requirements were met.

"This has been my stance throughout the process. I have now completed the transfer document which take us one step closer to the purchase on behalf of Workington Town Council.

"This will allow Workington Town Council to negotiate with Workington Juniors regarding use of the site and to create the space as a community facility."

The document means that the land will now be purchased, following the countersignature of the seller.