An abandoned church on a prime site in Aberystwyth town centre has been bought by the town council.

The price paid for St Winefride’s Church has not been revealed.

The Catholic church was closed “suddenly” by the Diocese of Menevia in 2012, and was only recently put on the open market.

But the town council said the sale process is in its “early days”.

Cllr Lucy Huws previously said she hoped the building could be kept as a community space, as well as a place “where people can go to recharge spiritually”.

She added: “It is marvellous to have secured this much loved, historic building for the town.”

In October, estate agents John Francis sent a letter to prospective purchasers stating that the building “cannot in the future be used for religious worship” and “certain fixtures and fittings will not form part of the sale”.

Cllr Huws labelled the removal of fixtures and fittings “short of architectural vandalism”. She added: “It is my opinion that the building should remain intact and not be disembowelled by removing historic artefacts. Buildings are testimony to a shared and communal past and lend a valuable compass of understanding to future generations.

“It is important to keep as much of our heritage as possible intact to educate and inform, as well as a reminder of a shared spiritual past.”