CREWKERNE'S former NatWest bank is one of three branches to have gone under the hammer.

The South Somerset building, at 2 Market Street, was sold for £220,000 by the regional land and property auctioneers Clive Emson on October 31.

The former NatWest building in Shepton Mallet was also sold, with the hammer going down at £158,000.

The two properties were bought by separate buyers on freehold guide prices of £150,000 to £200,000.

Auctioneer Graham Barton said: “Both of these handsome premises were the subject of strong bidding with the Crewkerne NatWest selling for a sum considerably over its freehold guide.

“Well located in prime positions, the new owners now have various options open to them including some kind of mixed residential and commercial redevelopment schemes subject to the necessary consents.”

Over the border into Devon, 133 High Street in Crediton also went up for auction on the same day.

The premises also used to be a NatWest branch until it closed on June 4, 2018.

Its sale was keenly contested before the hammer fell to an Exeter-based developer at £226,000 – well over its freehold guide price of £165,000 to £185,000.

Auctioneer Graham Barton said: “There was incredibly competitive bidding for this handsome town centre building.

“With its size, location at the heart of the town and multiple entrances, the new owner has a variety of options, including a mixed-use and commercial residential scheme, subject to the necessary consents.”

Clive Emson, Britain’s largest independent regional land and property auctioneer, holds eight rounds of auctions every six weeks, this time with a total of 130 lots.

The firm's final West Country auction is set for 11am on December 12, at the St Mellion International Resort in Cornwall.

Visit www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/west-country.