A quarter of a million pounds is on the table for Cardigan Castle - but owner's representative Brian Rees has turned it down.

The castle has been on the market for six months with local estate agents Fred Rees & Son for an asking price of £1.25m. Despite massive publicity - including spreads in national papers - there have been no takers.

It is understood that the castle has been valued at a fraction of the sum offered by the council.

Concern about the stalemate was raised by the audience at Monday's public meeting.

"The offer is on the table, free of costs," said former county councillor and Cadwgan Trust member Trevor Griffiths.

"If it comes to a CPO and Miss Wood and her agent challenge that it will go to a public enquiry. If they don't put up a reasonable case to challenge the CPO they will lose," he said.

And he added: "They could end up paying not only their own costs but the county's as well."

Cardigan county councillor and Cabinet member Mair Morris said Ceredigion was making sure it had a watertight case for compulsory purchase.

"The authority is taking things slowly and steadily. It could be as long as two years if the CPO is challenged by the owner," she said.

Some members of the audience raised fears that the castle could be snatched from under the nose of the authority by a private buyer.

But this scenario was scotched by castle expert Glen Johnson.

"A private buyer would have no access to grants. He would not only have to have very deep pockets but be prepared to invest millions for no return. And even if there was a private buyer, the council could still CPO."