A BID to return a listed building back to a community is in danger of collapsing because of a contract wrangle between villagers and the county council.

A mystery benefactor in Dilton Marsh has pledged £100,000 to save the old junior school from developers after Wiltshire County Council warned it could be sold on the open market.

But a dispute between the council and the village over conditions in the contract could scupper the rescue bid.

The 19th century grade II listed hall was taken over by the county council when the new Dilton Marsh Primary School was opened in 2001.

A deal saw the opening of a state-of-the-art school, in return for the old junior school taken over by the county council.

Villagers now want the building back for community use but a contract drawn up by council lawyers has left them furious.

Warden Chris Hill from the Holy Trinity Church posted the bid for a mystery benefactor who wants to remain anonymous.

He said: "The offer is in doubt because the county council is thinking along completely different lines to us.

"We have found a way to come up with the money through a confidential financial backer like they asked but we have the contract now and are not happy with it.

"It is difficult to say which way it is going to go."

The deal put forward by the council includes no vehicle access to the site and a condition that the hall must remain a community centre. But villagers fear the second condition is unacceptable and could leave them with a white elephant.

Mr Hill said: "Time passes and things change, so we don't want any restrictions.

"If we accept these conditions the building must remain as a community hall forever."

If a deal cannot be reached, the county council will put the building on the open market and it is likely to attract interest from housing developers.

A spokesman for Wiltshire County Council said: "Discussions have taken place between the purchasers and ourselves and we have put forward a number of compromise solutions to them.

"The building went before the cabinet in July 2002 and the villagers were given time to come up with the money.

"If this doesn't happen it is likely the building would be available on the open market but this is not certain."

Previous attempts to lease the building to the parish council have failed.