THE clock is ticking for anyone wanting to buy Newton Abbot’s derelict and neglected Queens Hotel.

Property agents Charles Darrow, which is selling the building for Coyne Group Ltd, is urging potential buyers to submit their bids by April 12.

The prominent building, opposite the town’s railway station, is on the market for a £900,000.

Planning permission to turn the building into 21 apartments is expected to be given soon.

A Teignbridge Council spokesman said: ‘The granting of planning permission is dependent of the applicant signing a Section 106 agreement to secure the provision of an off-site affordable housing contribution for one unit.’

Doors to the hotel closed for the last time in May 2014.

Jon Clyne, director of the property agents, said there has been a lot of good interest and three or four potential options have arisen.

‘There has been a whole wrath of interest from local people and we are pretty hopeful,’ he said.