THE former telephone exchange in Abersychan has a new owner, after the property was purchased at auction last Thursday.

Selling for £26,000 - £4,000 over its guide price – the building is located on High Street in the village and was bought by a local couple, who wish to remain anonymous.

The exchange was sold by Newport’s Paul Fosh Auctions, and the new owners, who came out victorious from the bidding war, are unsure on how to use their new acquisition.

After the auction, the couple said: “We live locally and know of the building. We haven’t really thought what we’re going to do with it but may well convert it into a single bed property.

“We liked it, we bought it and now we have to decide what to with it.”

The exchange, a detached brick built building complete with slate roofed, comes with its original name plate but none of the telecommunications fittings remain.

Paul Fosh Auction’s Kristy Sawmy said: “The sale created quite a bit of interest. It may be that the new owners decide that they want to ring the changes at this really unusual old telephone exchange.

“It’s a brilliantly quirky old building that could have a number of alternative uses subject to planning permission being granted.

She added: “The property has previously been a computer shop and was even lived in for a time. Planning permission for the construction of a rear extension to house a shower and toilet block was granted but has now lapsed.”