The ruins of a 12th Century castle are to be bought by a council after the authority used its statutory powers to force a sale.

A compulsory purchase order - which allows councils to make land owners sell their property if it is in the public interest - has been placed on Cardigan Castle.

Major restoration work will be needed

Ceredigion councillors decided on the move after negotiations with the sites elderly owner broke down.

The castle - home to the first National Eisteddfod in 1176- had been put on the open market with a price tag of �1.25m.

But owner Barbara Wood, 84, who now lives in a nursing home, had failed to find a buyer.

Defending the move councillors said there were "clear logical and legal reasons for using statutory powers to acquire the castle".

It is understood the authority had initially offered about �250,00 for the site.

Council leader, Dai Lloyd Evans, said: "The council did not readily resort to using compulsory purchase powers.

"But we received a clear message from the people of Cardigan that action was needed to safeguard the castle for public use.

"Not only was the site of significance, but it currently presented an eyesore in Cardigan.

"In the current circumstances of severe job losses in Cardigan, steps were needed to make the town attractive for investment and to maintain confidence."

A model of how campaigners see the site if it is restored

Glen Johnson, who led the campaign to rescue the castle said the restoration project will be a "massive shot in the arm for the local economy".

Earlier this month, clothing manufacturer Dewhirst announced it was closing its factory in the town with the loss of 325 jobs.

A further 147 are to go at the nearby Aberporth missile testing range.

Mr Johnson said: "Restoration work will take about 15 years and there will be a lot of good quality jobs available during that period.

"Our ultimate aim is to create a cultural centre of national significance with education facilities."

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

About 4,000 people had signed a petition calling on the local authority to buy the ancient pile.

The overgrown two acre site comprises of a derelict mansion, cottage and stable block - all of which are Grade I or Grade II listed historic buildings.