More than £140,000 was spent refurbishing the historic police station in Castletown six years ago.

The sale of the historic building was put on hold earlier this year following a public outcry that a building of such significance could end up being lost forever.

Talks are taking place with interested parties and the Treasury offered Manx National Heritage an interest-free loan to buy the building, which has a market value of £250,000.

In the House of Keys last week, Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) demanded to know how much money had been spent upgrading and repairing the building.

Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey said a refurbishment took place in 2011-12, at a cost of £141,696.

Running costs of the building, which closed down as a police station last year, were between £2,000 and £2,300 a year.

Mr Moorhouse said: ’If the level of investment has been over £140,000 and things like the roof have been updated and the asking price is in the region of £250,000, does he suggest we are really giving away the family silver?’

The minister hit back: ’We are giving away nearly £400,000 if we give the building away, to be perfectly honest.’

Officers officially moved out of the Baillie Scott-designed station, opposite the entrance to Castle Rushen, in November last year.

The new base is purpose-built accommodation at the civic centre in Farrant’s Way.