A FORMER courthouse which is feared could become a derelict grotspot could have been bought for the community.

Harwich Magistrates’ Court, in Main Road, Dovercourt, closed in March 2012, when Colchester’s new £30million court house on St Botolph’s Circus opened.

Despite being given the go-ahead to be transformed into an international music school , the building has gone back up for sale for the third time – with an inflated price tag of £500,000.

Resident Dave Rutson of Highfield Avenue, said Harwich Town Council had the chance to take on the building.

A spokesman for Harwich Town Council said: “The council was advised of the opportunity to purchase the courthouse but decided the required price made the purchase totally impractical."