Simon Rigby says he will be taking legal advice after being stripped of ownership of Preston Guild Hall.

Preston City Council used a special urgency decision to take back the lease from the administrator in the early hours of Friday (21 June).

Mr Rigby says he was not informed by the city council, or the administrator, before the change in lease.

In a statement the man who says he lost £6million in taking on the Guild Hall said: “I read about Preston City Council “taking back” Preston Guild Hall on Blog Preston. I then had calls from staff so I assume Blog Preston knew before it actually happened.

“The Administrator may have been informed but I was not.

“I have not had a single alleged breach brought to my attention by anyone.

“In the short term I hope PCC do nothing to unravel the work we have done on much improving PGH. I assume PCC will be appointing one of the half dozen operators we have been working with over the last eight months.

“When I get something official from the Council I will be taking Legal Advice and will respond.”

Mr Rigby had announced on Thursday (20 June) he was setting up a charity to be able to reopen the Guild Hall.

It appears this action triggered Preston City Council’s action to decide to activate their ability to take back control of the building and take on the lease from the administrator.

The Guild Hall was sold to Mr Rigby for £1, by Preston City Council, in 2014.