A CANFORD Cliffs hotel which provides a holiday haven for people with mobility disabilities has been put on the market because it is running at a loss.

The ideally located Orton Rigg in Sandbanks has been used by arthritis sufferers from across the country for 40 years, and the Victorian redbrick building is owned by Arthritis Care.

However, the charity's decision to put all four of its speciality hotels in the UK up for sale has left a cloud of uncertainty over the premises.

The hotel, whose freehold has been valued at more than £1 million, was one of four that made a £325,000 loss this financial year, leading to the decision to employ property consultant Knight Frank.

A spokesman for Knight Frank described it as having "unique investment potential".

"Subject to the appropriate consents, it would offer a number of good opportunities," she said.

Divided in to three stories and 19 bedrooms, some residents can enjoy views over the landscaped gardens and terraced seating area.

However, some councillors are concerned it will soon be turned in to more expensive flats.

Canford Cliffs councillor Neil Sorton said: "There is a shortage of this kind of accommodation and I'm sure there will be an increase in demand for that kind of care, so I would not like to see it used for any other purpose.

"Whatever people's holiday habits are now, Canford Cliffs is still a lovely place to go for your holidays."

A spokeswoman for Arthritis Care, Jane Spence, said: "Fewer and fewer people with arthritis were using it, which made the decision to sell it more appealing.

"The landscape for disabled holidays has changed considerably, the hotels are not running at a profit and we are not allowed to run at a loss."

She added Arthritis Care hoped that whoever bought the hotel would continue in the spirit that it has been used for over the past 60 years.

"There has been some outside interest from other charities, as well as two local hoteliers but we can not say at this moment who they are," she said.