The building was originally built to hold cock fights

The downstairs of the octagonal venue in Welshpool, Powys may be rented out to the Women's Institute.

But there are proposals to convert the top floor to feature displays about the now outlawed sport.

Known as the cockpit, it run down but is believed to be the last place of its type in Wales on its original site.

The cockpit is owned by a high street bank and is leased to Powys Council, which sub-leases it to Welshpool Town Council.

Town council clerk Robert Robinson said the building needed restoring. However, any change of use will have to go before county council planners.

"It's in a poor state, partly boarded up and looks tired and unloved," added Mr Robinson.

"We would like to restore it and make it available for people to see. We would like to open the upstairs and feature a display about cock fighting and open that section two days a week."

The cockpit was specifically built as a venue for the sport and could have held more than 150 spectators.

Welshpool councillor Alan Crowe said: "I want to see it totally as a tourist attraction, and I think Welshpool would benefit from a town centre attraction.

"It has a lot of a history attached to it, and would probably need a bit of money spent on it to develop it as a tourist attraction."