THERE was standing room only when a house near York which is only accessible by boat was auctioned off.

More than 30 people packed into a small back room at The Vincent Arms pub in Sutton upon Derwent to watch the tense bidding for the 19th century Lock House - romantically situated on an island in the middle of the River Derwent, near Elvington.

Carter Jonas estate agents, selling the property on behalf of the Environment Agency, reported an intense interest in the distinctive property since the Evening Press featured it last month.

Its new owner, who would be identified only as a Yorkshireman, bought the Lock House for £110,000 - ten per cent over its guide price of £100,000.

After the auction he said: "It hasn't sunk in yet."

Auctioneer Andrew Fallows - welcoming his audience to a "rather special" sale - reminded bidders that the house had been hit by fire earlier in the week, though the damage had only been minor.

But that did not deter two determined bidders, who fought for the property as its price rose in £2,000 increments.

The property - originally built for the keeper of the nearby Elvington Lock - has two bedrooms, a sitting room, a kitchen, a larder, bathroom, a storeroom and extra toilet. It comes with about a third of an acre of land, plus mooring and fishing rights.

Carter Jonas director Edward Waterson said he was "very satisfied" with the result of the auction.

"We have got some very happy clients and a very happy buyer. It's interesting to think that that's the equivalent of a terraced house in York.

"We knew the world and his wife would be here. We had two firm bidders which is all you need."

Joan and Chris Burnett, of East Cottingwith, near Selby, said they might have been prepared to bid for the property had its guide price been less.

Chris said: "I would not have gone that high because you have the enormous expense of doing it up."

But he added: "It would have been a real fun thing to do.

"It's unique - there's nowhere else on the river like it."

Updated: 10:05 Thursday, June 17, 2004