A property for sale in Malton, a town lying on the banks of the Derwent, to the north-east of York, has hit the headlines because of a rather unusual feature.

According to the Scottish Sun the fact that Malton Lodge sits in an “eerie” and “grim” location at the entrance from the New Malton Cemetery “has put buyers off” and “hopes of a potential buyer coffin up the asking price…are fading”.

The paper reported that Town Hall bosses then decided that to seal a deal they would throw in a free plot in the cemetery. The council wants to use the proceeds of the sale to fund improvements to the graveyard’s two chapels of rest, restore the main gates and widen access roads.

In reality Willowgreen estate agents, in Malton, put the property on the market at £250,000 and it immediately drew considerable interest from buyers. Yesterday they told EYE that as a result they received twelve offers in the first week and will have tied up a sale in the next few days.

They expressed a certain bemusement over the Scottish Sun story and confirmed that they had not actually included a burial plot in the sales particulars. It was something that had been offered completely separately by the Town council.

Good to lay that one to rest then…