The owners of a former prisoner of war camp tourist attraction at Harperley, Co. Durham, have put it up for sale on eBay after running out of money to pay for the site's restoration.

Harperley POW Camp, known as working camp 93, was established in 1943 initially to house Italian prisoners of war. In 1944 the Italians were dispersed to make way for German prisoners deemed to be of low security risk and the camp closed in 1948.

The 10-acre site comprises 49 huts, including a theatre with a purpose built stage, orchestra pit and auditorium, and a canteen building featuring a series of painted wall panels showing typical German scenes. English Heritage awarded the camp Ancient Monument status in 2002.

Planning permission has been granted for a visitor attraction/museum within the site, plus a garden centre, restaurant, farm shop, office and a number of holiday lettings. An adjacent area of land contains a 34-pitch touring caravan site.

Owners James and Lisa McLeod have been running the site as a tourist attraction since 2004 but - having already spent over £1m (US$1.6m, 1.1m euro) on its restoration - are now hoping to raise £900,000 (US$1.4m, 988,638 euro) by selling it to someone with the funding to finish the work.

Harperley became well-known nationally in 2003 when it appeared in the final of the BBC television show Restoration, in which run-down buildings competed for a £3m (US$4.8m, 3.3m euro) grant from English Heritage.