Castle's roof repair cost doubles

Scaffolding will not come down until summer 2008

The cost of restoring an historic castle's roof has more than doubled after initial investigations revealed problems with rainwater run off.

Work began on the £400,000 project at Dunster Castle, Somerset, in May 2006. Since then the cost of the job has risen to an estimated £900,000.

Structural changes to the mansion in the 19th Century failed to make adequate gullies and guttering.

Infestations of deathwatch beetles were also discovered in the roof space.

In keeping with Victorian fashion, the Jacobean house was transformed into a Gothic mansion complete with crennellations.

At the moment it looks like a huge warehouse in the sky Stephen Hayes

Too few downspouts were added, so over time water seeped into the roof structure.

"We have awarded a contract for a firm to come onto the site from September and the job is due to finish in summer next year," said Stephen Hayes, property administrator at Dunster Castle.

"At the moment it looks like a huge warehouse in the sky - it has a corrugated roof," he added.

The castle was due to see the scaffolding poles removed in a few weeks but will not now be free from building works until summer 2008.

The restoration of the roof is being jointly funded by the National Trust and English Heritage.

The castle, more than 1,000 years old, has suffered from leaks in its roof and now its contents and fabric are threatened.

Among the vulnerable items and areas are the leather hangings in the Leather Gallery and King Charles' Bedroom.