ADMINISTRATORS of the collapsed operator Llangollen Railway PLC say "advanced negotiations" are taking place with a potential buyer.

Llangollen Railway PLC lannounced last month that it is not legally able to continue to trade - with the company £350,000 insolvent.

Cowgills was appointed as an administrator has been looking to find a buyer and save up to 15 jobs - with the line worth roughly £8.5 million a year to north east Wales' economy.

The Llangollen Railway Trust - which is separate from Llangollen Railway PLC - is not in financial difficulty.

It owns most of the track, three locomotives as well as passenger rolling stock. The Trust has been fundraising in order to buy other assets and save the line.

An online auction is being held to sell other assets.

A Cowgills spokesperson said: "Following the appointment of Alan Coleman and Jason Elliott both of Cowgills as Joint Administrators they remain in advanced negotiations with an interested party to acquire the business and certain assets.

"The remaining rolling stock and engineering assets have generated a lot of interest during the initial accelerated sales process.

"Upon advice from their agents, Lambert Smith Hampton, the remaining assets will be placed into an online auction on May 12, 2021 to be held at Llangollen Railway Station."

The Llangollen Railway PLC assets to be auctioned include 10 of the Mark 1 coaches (BR built c1950/60), rail cranes, assorted wagons and Transit vans.

Clwyd South MP, Simon Baynes, said: "I am very sorry that Llangollen Railway PLC has had to invite their bank to appoint a receiver but the combination of Covid and past engineering contract disputes has put an intolerable burden on the railway.

"I hope, however, that a way forward is found for the Llangollen Railway so that it can emerge from this crisis with a sustainable long term future and continue to provide great pleasure to the many thousands of visitors to Llangollen in the years to come."

Details of the auction can viewed in full at https://www.lsh.co.uk/assetadvisory/online-auctions/llangollen-railway-plc-auction

To donate to Llangollen Railway Trust's fundraiser, visit https://llangollenrailway.enthuse.com/profile