The district council has launched a new website offering public-owned land and property for sale.

Named Assetbank, East Cambridgeshire District Council hopes to use the website to advertise land that is surplus to requirements in a bid to raise much-needed funds or to give an area a new lease of life.

The council is currently faced with a black of more than £3million which will has to be filled by 2018 in order to balance the books.

The council said: “Assetbank is where East Cambridgeshire District Council promotes and advertises property and land, which we want residents, businesses and organisations to come forward and suggest new uses for.

“We want to encourage the wider community to submit ideas for the use of assets listed on Assetbank. So whether you are looking to build new homes, develop a community facility or any other idea you have please get in touch.”

Currently listed on the site is about an acre of land in Barton Close, Witchford, and about a third of an acre at St John’s Road.

The St John’s Road land is a council-owned block of 17 rented garages, with a condition that access to the garages must be maintained for residents.

The Barton Close land is an open field which was formerly the subject of a planning application for housing, though the deal fell through following negotiations over price.

To find out more about the properties on offer, visit www.eastcambs.gov.uk