GOING to the nick will have a whole new meaning for whoever buys a former West Midlands police station.

The old Bilston Police Station, in Mount Pleasant, is one of dozens of properties, some of them obscure and unusual, which are up for sale on Thursday.

It comes complete with its own basement cell block, although the bars have been removed because the slammer was more recently used as a locker and storage area.

It was famously the only police station in the country to be surrounded by a moat – 10ft wide and 6ft deep.

According to some local historians the moat came in handy during the First World War when an angry mob laid siege to it to demand the release of soldiers on leave arrested for disorderly behaviour.

The 170-year-old building was later deemed out of date and a modern, £3.5 million station opened its doors earlier this year.

The guide price for the old station is £150,000.

It will go under the hammer at a property auction at Villa Park.

It is part of a sell off by Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police.

Also up for sale are the old Hawthorn House in Handsworth Wood, a former children’s home, a sheltered housing complex and derelict homes seized from irresponsible owners.

It is the second time Hawthorn House has been placed on the market. The 19th century mansion was withdrawn from sale last year to give community groups a chance to submit a business case to keep it in public ownership.

But the community bid failed and it is now up for sale by Birmingham City Council with a guide price of between £350,000 and £400,000.

The Grade II listed house has six ground floor reception rooms and 12 upper floor rooms.