The station last produced electricity in November 2002

British Gas group Centrica is buying the Roosecote gas fired power station for �24 million.

Thirty three staff, including management currently employed by the plant's owners Lakeland Power and maintenance staff from Alstom Power are to be transferred to Centrica.

Receivers at accountants KPMG have been looking for a buyer for the site in Barrow since December 2002.

While the plant has not been generating power since then, staff were retained in anticipation that a buyer could be found.

The station has not produced any electricity since November 2002, when its contract with TXU Europe collapsed.

Centrica already owns gas fired power stations in King's Lynn, Peterborough and Glanford Brigg in Lincolnshire as well as owning a 60% stake in Humber Power, which operates a separate plant in Lincolnshire.

Chief executive Sir Roy Gardner said: "We are continuing to see strong progress in our electricity business and this transaction is a positive move to reflect Centrica's continued expansion in both the residential and commercial electricity market."

A statement from Centrica said that it hoped to complete the deal by the middle of May.

The Roosecote site is capable of producing 229 megawatts of electricity at full capacity taking Centrica's total to 1,934 megawatts.