YOU can't live on it, you can't build on it and it's steeply sloped - but if you want to buy a piece of woodland in Bolton it could set you back £10,000.

The area in question is a 1.5 acre stretch of woodland at Eagley which is coming up for auction later this week.

It is expected to generate massive interest with the trend for buying rugged patches of green land across the county growing every day

The auctioneer, Alan McNaughton, says the land is one of their more unusual lots.

He said: "There has been a steady stream of interest from potential buyers since it went on the market in August.

"The current owner had it for a year after they bought it from a developer.

"I think a potential buyer could be a local resident with an interest in conservation who would like to preserve it for the benefit of the community."

The woodland, in the north of Bolton, cannot be developed and has a guide price of between £5,000 to £10,000.

Estate agents Miller Metcalfe has high hopes for the lot when it comes up for auction. Mr McNaughton, an auctioneer with 25 years experience, said: "It is situated on a steep slope, in a conservation area in Eagley Bank, on the south side of Eagley Way.

"It is a very green area, with lots of trees, mostly sycamores, which are protected by a tree preservation order, so you couldn't really build on it.

"There's plenty of timber on the site so if someone's got an open fire at home it would probably keep them going for the rest of their life.

"We offered this site as a tester because we didn't know what the response would be but we've now got a few more in the pipeline."

Joe Field, managing director of Woods 4 Sale, a website specialising in the sale of small woodlands in England and Wales for wildlife conservation and investment, said: "These sort of lots come up for sale rarely. You generally can't build on these sites. They're usually bought by families who manage them for conservation. It's a small growing trend."

l The Eagley Bank woodland site will be sold on Thursday, September 29, at 2pm at the David Lloyd Leisure Club, Chorley Street.