A GROUP which tried and failed to buy Colchester's famous water tower has asked for talks over its future.

Chicken farmer Paul Flatman bought the Grade II* listed Jumbo at auction in London.

He won the bidding war by offering £190,000 for the iconic structure.

However, since the auction in May, no plans have been revealed for the water tower.

Now the Balkerne Tower Trust, which was set up to preserve Jumbo, has asked to meet Mr Flatman in a bid to open discussions.

For more on this story see tomorrow's Gazette and Essex County Standard.