Plans are under way to transform a well-known Cockermouth town centre vacant building.

The Printing House building on Main Street went under the hammer last summer and was sold for £190,000.

It has been bought by Cockermouth man Paul Mcloughlin, his brother Martin, who lives in the North East, and another friend.

Paul, who works at Sellafield and has completed other renovations, said: "It's a fantastic building and I want to do something with it.

"Although primarily I want to ensure the look of the building is kept."

The large property, which includes Georgian and Elizabethan elements, a courtyard and some side buildings, used to be a bookshop, art materials supplier, gallery and printing museum.

It closed in 2009, a year after the death of David Winkworth, who owned the building with his wife, Angela.

Builders are making the premises safe at the moment.

Ideally, Mr Mcloughlin hopes to turn it into a shop with two flats above. 

He said: "The whole thing is a big undertaking and we all have full-time jobs.

"A lot depends on what building control and planning will allow. There are a whole lot of ifs and buts.

"It's a massive building, absolutely huge. We have not got a clue what we will do with the back bit and courtyard, there are all sorts of fire regulations which we have to look into.

"We have had various parties knocking on the door since we started work and saying that they are interested in the premises, we are open to all offers.

"We want it to be something that will fit in with the town."