The council's financial position has been making national headlines, the government has appointed ministerial envoys to oversee reform, Birchwood Park is being sold to Goldman Sachs, and proposed cuts include street lighting reductions and service reviews.

On Church Lane in Culcheth, tucked beside Newchurch Parish Church and set back from the road behind its car park, sits the oldest pub in the village.

Being a landlord in the UK has become harder in recent years. Rising mortgage costs, more regulation and higher expectations from tenants have added pressure.

When you have had your property on the market for a while, many sellers eventually face the same difficult decision: whether their asking price needs adjusting to reignite buyer interest.