A former Somerset vicarage and care home could be sold off for up to £600,000 to help the county's new unitary authority balance its books.

Somerset Council will officially replace the five existing councils on April 1, providing all of their public services and inheriting all of their existing assets – including property.

Somerset County Council is currently in possession of The Old Vicarage on Brook Street in Cannington, which was formerly used as a care home for disabled adults.

The county council has now announced its intention to sell the property, with the proceeds being used to help fund the new authority's capital programme.

The two-storey, seven-bedroom residents lies in the centre of the village, between St. Mary's Church and The Friendly Spirit public house.

The property was acquired by the county council in 1991 to be used as a care home; to that end, it was leased to Dimensions to provide accommodation for adults with disabilities.

The facility was handed back to the council in October 2021 and has been vacant ever since.

Laura Rose, the council's governance and performance officer, said the council had no need to hang onto the property due to care needs being met elsewhere in the vicinity.

She said: "We engaged with our adult and children's social care teams to determine if there was a current or future operational need or requirement to support statutory services.

"No such need has been identified; therefore it was agreed that the property was surplus to requirements and the process to dispose of the asset was commenced."

The property is currently being marketed by Greenslade Taylor Hunt with a guide price of £600,000 and is marked as sold subject to contract.

The proceeds from the sale will be used by the new unitary authority to fund its capital programme (which includes the £23.2m Bridgwater town deal) following the approval of its first annual budget on Wednesday (February 22).

Ms Rose said: "The capital receipt from this sale will contribute towards the financing of the council's capital budgets, with any surplus being held in reserve for future potential reinvestment.

"While this asset remains the responsibility of the council, expenditure is being incurred to keep the property and land secure and safe."