A former prisoner of war camp attraction at Harperley, County Durham, which was put up sale on auction website eBay after its owners ran out of money to pay for the site's restoration, has failed to sell.

Harperley POW Camp was established in 1943 initially to house Italian prisoners of war. In 1944 the Italians were moved out and replaced by German prisoners deemed to be of low security risk. The site closed in 1948. The 10-acre attraction comprises 49 huts, including a theatre with a purpose built stage, orchestra pit and auditorium, and a canteen building featuring a series of painted wall panels. English Heritage awarded the camp Ancient Monument status in 2002.

Planning permission has been granted for a visitor attraction/museum within the site, plus a garden centre, restaurant, farm shop, office and a number of holiday lettings. An adjacent area of land contains a 34-pitch touring caravan site. Owners James and Lisa McLeod have been running the site as a tourist attraction since 2004 but - having already spent more than £1m (US$1.6m, 1.1m euro) on its restoration - were hoping to raise £900,000 (US$1.4m, 988,638 euro) by selling it to someone with the funding to finish the work.

It is reported locally that a group called Shildon Community Museum now hopes to set up a charity to raise sufficient money to allow the camp to reopen. Harperley became well-known nationally in 2003 when it appeared in the final of the BBC television show Restoration, in which run-down buildings competed for a £3m (US$4.8m, 3.3m euro) grant from English Heritage.