SUPPORTERS of Dorset's historic Sherborne House have been granted a six-month extension in their tenancy to give them more time to secure crucial Heritage Lottery funding.

The home recently missed out on the £3 million jackpot up for grabs via the BBC's Restoration programme.

Cabinet members at County Hall agreed to the new October 2005 deadline for the Sherborne House Trust after hearing that an application for cash from the lottery could well be successful.

Heritage Lottery bosses have already agreed to give the trust £50,000 to pave the way for an application to be submitted asking for the £3 million desperately needed to restore the house.

The Grade I listed building is owned by the county council which leases it to the house trust - a group which plans to completely restore the 18th century structure and create a regional arts centre with gallery space and an Elizabeth Frink sculpture garden.

The trust has already been given £289,000 from the Arts Lottery Fund.

Work calculated to cost more than £200,000 is desperately needed in the first instance to plug serious water leaks in the roof of the building, which are threatening to destroy the historic Thornhill murals.

"The trust has continued its efforts to secure funding for restoration of Sherborne House, and despite requests from the Heritage Lottery Fund for further information, remain optimistic that their application will be successful," said a report seen by cabinet members at the meeting.

First published: Sept 9