A car park could be turned into a housing development after it was auctioned off for three times the expected price.

The Bradford Council-owned 600 square-metre plot of land on Darfield Street, Manningham, was expected to fetch £45,000.

But it was finally sold for more than £137,000 after furious bidding among a number of potential buyers, mostly from the Asian community.

The modest car park, which is opposite the Jamiyat Tabligh Ul Islam mosque, was rented from the Council by local residents and businesses until about a year ago but has not been used since.

The site, which is in a conservation area, was formerly occupied by housing and it is thought the mystery telephone bidder who snapped it up may be planning to build cottages on it.

Chris Eaton, of the Council's planning department, said they had received inquiries from would-be buyers before the sale who wanted to either retain it as a car park or build housing on it.

He said any development would have to be sensitive because it was in a conservation area.

Senior property services officer Richard Schofield said any changes to the site would require planning permission.

He added: "I assume, because of the price paid for the site, that the buyer wants to put it to a different use than its current one. Land like this is fetching significant prices which does not compare with the rental income."

Auctioneer Tony Webber, of Eddisons estate agents, said there had been a lot of competitive bidding for the car park.

"There were a lot of interested parties, almost exclusively from the Asian community. We were very surprised it went for that price."