DEVELOPERS have been swamped by offers for a luxury mill conversion after insisting on sealed bids for the homes.

Twenty people entered the race by tabling bids for just six flats available at the Grade II listed former Arcon bleachworks factory, off Chorley Old Road, Horwich.

The clamour for the executive flats, expected to be sold for between £140,000 and £178,000, was triggered when developers Redrow Homes said they would only accept sealed bids due to massive demand for the first phase of the plush development.

The sealed bids process -- a process used in Scotland -- means 14 prospective homeowners will miss out.

It is thought to be the first time the bidding process has been used in Bolton, and the same process will apply to the rest of the development when the properties become available later this year.

It will feature about 140 properties, including one and two-bedroomed flats, two, three and four-bedroomed town houses, detached homes and mews-style cottages.

Christine Aitken, sales director for Redrow Homes, said: "Because of the nature of the development we can only release a small number of homes for sale at a time -- in this instance six properties in a variety of designs.

"We took the unusual decision of offering the first release of homes on a sealed bid basis as demand was staggeringly high and we wanted to give every interested party the opportunity to bid on the home of their choice.

"We received 20 firm offers for the first six properties, which are now being considered following expiry of the deadline.

"Mindful that some people will be disappointed, we hope to be able to go back to those who made bids and were unsuccessful and offer them first refusal on the next properties released for sale, which are similar house types.

"We hope to release a further selection of apartments in early autumn but have not yet determined how these will be marketed."