Wakefield Council has announced it plans to sell off Clarke Hall Educational Museum after a tendering exercise failed to secure a new organisation to operate the heritage attraction.

The local authority started its search for an external operator after the museum's Designated School Grant was withdrawn last year - leaving no funding to keep the property open.

A formal process was launched in December 2011 and a council subsidy was made available to support a preferred operator. However, no agreement was reached by the 11 June deadline.

Wakefield Council cabinet member for culture David Dagger said: "It is with very great regret and disappointment that we have to close Clarke Hall with immediate effect.

"We do not have the money to run Clarke Hall as a council facility and we have not been able to find a relevant organisation to run it, even though we were willing to provide a subsidy."

Clarke Hall will continue to host its Heritage Open Day on 8 September and a historic food day on 15 September with council backing, but no further events will be supported.

Click here for more information about the decision to sell Clarke Hall Education Museum and click here for more about the museum itself.