Members of a trust have secured a deposit in the hope they can fulfill their long-term ambition to buy a historic castle after its owners put the site up for auction.

Gwrych Castle, which overlooks Abergele, will go under the hammer for offers over £600,000.

The site - featuring a 19th century built grade one castle in a shell conditions, set within 160 acres, has been put up for sale by Edwards Property Management.

The company, who bought the castle in 2010, had ideas of turning the site into a five-star country hotel but the plans fell through.

Speaking to the Journal, Dr Mark Baker, chairman and founder of Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust, said the group had now raised enough money to put down a deposit.

“For the past 21 years, we have been campaigning to secure the future of Gwrych Castle and has successfully restored five acres of gardens and buildings under a 25 year lease.

“We are now in advanced discussions with the current owners and with private donors and funders to seek the support we will need to secure the ownership of the Castle.

“For me personally, it would be great to see the castle being bought into public ownership. We want to move forward with the purchase.

"So many people came out to support us over the Easter weekend, and joined the trust, we've managed to raise the de

Gwrych Castle was built in 1815.

It was bought by Californian property developer Nick Tavaglione in 1990, but ambitious plans to convert the historic site into a five-star hotel and opera house, dedicated in memory of Richard Burton, never materialised.

The last of the New Age travellers - who first arrived in 1995 and claimed they were ‘guardians of the site’ – were forced to leave in 1997 after Conwy County successfully won a bid to remove them on planning grounds.

In 1997, Mark founded A Society For the Friends of Gwrych. In 2001, this was changed to Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust and became a registered charity.

Mark added: “The trust recognises the generosity of the public so far and welcomes all expressions of support and contributions to our funds to enable us to swiftly conclude the purchase of the Castle and subsequently to restore it to its historic glory.”

The sale of the castle is set to take place at the AJ Bell Stadium in Manchester on April 17.