The fate of a former bank building in the centre of Cumnock could soon be sealed, East Ayrshire Council have said.

The Glaisnock Street building that was formerly home to the town's Royal Bank of Scotland branch was put up for sale by the local authority in May.

The decision to put the building on the market was made after councillors backed the idea of selling the property.

The council acquired the property in February 2019, and had initially hoped to have a new occupant in the building within a matter of months - only for the pandemic to get in the way.

The bank branch closed in October 2017, with RBS stating the following year that they would be willing to give the building to the community for free - if there were no commercial bids for the premises and if a community bid came with a "viable and deliverable" business case.

READ MORE: Council place former RBS bank building up for sale

Now it seems like a new occupant could be not too far away.

East Ayrshire Council confirmed that building is currently under offer.

The news comes weeks after it was announced that Cumnock's last remaining bank branch, on Townhead Street, would be closing next year.

The property, on Glaisnock Street, was listed with a valuation in excess of £75,000.

Money was ploughed into the former RBS  building to fix the deteriorating roof, with council bosses keen to avoid any further expenditure on the property before attempting to sell it.

It was decided that the building would be placed on the market in its current condition to get an idea of the level of interest in the property.

The property was advertised for sale with a closing date at the end of June - and it hasn't taken long for a prospective buyer to come forward.

READ MORE: Closure of Cumnock's last bank branch announced

An East Ayrshire Council spokesperson told the Chronicle: "East Ayrshire Council can confirm that the former bank building on Glaisnock Street, which went to a closing date on Thursday 29 June, is currently under offer."

Speaking at a cabinet meeting in April, when the property's future was discussed, Cumnock and New Cumnock councillor Jim McMahon said: "We’ve spent a considerable amount of money already on the roof.

"I think it’s important to note that for the RBS building, the spend on that was essential for the preservation of that building for that particular time.

“The expectation was that we were going to have occupants in there by now. Obviously, due to covid and the way covid has impacted on the way we work, that’s kind of fell through as well, so that’s the main reason that would be going to market."