Built in the 12th century, Cardigan Castle is a focal point of the town.

The castle is overgrown and off limits

Local campaigners have attempted to work with Ms Wood to develop the castle's potential, but talks have not been successful.

Now the castle will be placed on the open market.

Ceredigion AM Elin Jones has written to the county council urging them to play a lead role in the negotiations.

"It is a worry that the castle could now go to the highest bidder," said Ms Jones.

"We could lose one of the pearls of Ceredigion to someone who has no association or love for the castle and its heritage."

The restoration campaign follows recent efforts to maintain Gwrych Castle, in north Wales.

In Ceredigion, councillors have previously campaigned to place a compulsory purchase order on Cardigan Castle.

They are now hoping the authority will be given first refusal to buy the dilapidated structure.

National importance

The campaign to transform Cardigan Castle into a place of historic interest dates back 40 years.

The site is overgrown by undergrowth Although very little remains of the original stone castle local people believe the prime site should be developed into a shrine of national significance.

An event mirroring modern eisteddfods - complete with contests and 'bardic' chairs- was held at the castle in 1176 by Lord Rhys.

In the 19th century, a Georgian mansion was built inside the bailey of the castle.

The castle is private property and off limits to members of the public.

Gwrych Castle: Focus of restoration efforts

The medieval history of Cardigan Castle is filled with tales of battles between the Welsh and Normans, as the fortress changed hands frequently.

Lord Rhys - Rhys ap Gruffydd - the Prince of Deheubarth, used the castle as the centrepoint of his local defences.

The prince seized the fortress from the Normans in about 1170 and turned the timber structure into a stone castle.

In 1176, he used the castle to hold two cultural contests, between bards and poets and harpists and pipers, with two chairs presented to the winners.

After Lord Rhys' death in 1197, his two sons fought for control of the castle at the start of a turbulent period of control, which saw it swap hands from Llywelyn the Great to the Welsh, the Normans and Edward I.

In the mid 13th century, repairs and additions were made to the castle, including a new keep, town wall and two towers.

The castle was effectively destroyed during the English Civil War by Cromwell's army in the 17th century.