OWNERS of an historic building in Bradford on Avon have been dressed down over their failure to carry out urgent repairs to rotting walls and a leaking roof.

Dry rot and crumbling tiles at Kingston House, part of the Kingston Mill site, are threatening to destroy the historic treasure.

Owners Bryant Homes have been given eight weeks to carry out vital repairs.

If that time expires and the work is still incomplete an Urgent Works Notice will be issued and the council will repair the building. The cost would then be billed to Bryant Homes.

Conservation officers responded to phonecalls from concerned residents who were worried about the future of the Grade II listed building.

Members of the Northern Area Committee considered a report submitted by West Wiltshire District Council's head of strategy Ian Gallin, urging them to sanction the works notice and seek estimates for repairs.

Councillors met on Thursday and decided to issue Bryant Homes with the time limit to ensure work is carried out in time to save the building.

This is the latest development in the ongoing saga surrounding Kingston Mill. The site is earmarked for renovation to turn the area into a complex of houses, shops and offices.

Representatives from Bryant Homes are ironing out the blueprints with planning officers from the district council. It is hoped a planning application will be submitted within the next two months.

Emergency measures have already been implemented at Kingston House to prevent the roof collapsing. Estimates for repair to the slate tiles start from about £77,000.

District and town councillor Cllr Minna Gillham said: "We are starting to put in emergency measures so the district council would be in a position to go ahead with the work."