A FORMER water pumping station in Southampton went under the auctioneer’s hammer for £142,000 in a bidding war.

The freehold building at Stoneham Lane, with lapsed planning permission to be converted into a three-bedroom house, went for £52,000 more than the guide price.

It is among 137 lots being sold by land and property auctioneers Clive Emson across southern England.

Rob Marchant, auction valuer, said: “Bidders were pumped up, if you pardon the awful pun. There was a fierce bidding war for this property, with the bids coming in thick and fast. The gavel came down on a final bid of £142,000, which was £52,000 above guide.”

He added: “I’ve been doing this job for some years now and cannot recall a water pumping station coming up for sale in and around Southampton. Given the nature of the building, we can assume that accessing mains water shouldn’t be a problem!”