Computer game to help restoration

Campaigners have been trying to fund the restoration for almost 10 years.

An online computer game designed to get youngsters interested in the restoration of an 18th century Georgian town house has been launched.

People playing Llanelly House Hunt have to clear the building of mess and find hidden objects to help the restoration.

The historic building in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire will soon undergo a £5m restoration paid for by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

It is due to open to the public in 2012 as a community heritage centre.

The restored building will also have a cafe and will be used as an exhibition and interpretation space and a dedicated area for community usage.

It is hoped the game will engage all members of the community - both young and old - in the project.

We designed the rooms from actual images of the rooms at Llanelly House as we thought this would add authenticity to the whole project Darren Adams, game developer

Lisa Bancroft, community development manager for the restoration project, said: "Young people are key to the success of this project and we want to get them involved from the very beginning - and what better way than by having real fun at the very start.

"The Llanelly House team are actively encouraging youth and community groups of Llanelli and surrounding areas to get involved with the project."

Darren Adams, director of Chaos Trend, the Swansea-based company which developed the game, said: "The rooms that you have to 'clear' are based on real places in the house as it currently stands.

"'We designed the rooms from actual images of the rooms at Llanelly House as we thought this would add authenticity to the whole project."

Campaigners have been working for almost a decade to raise funding for the restoration.

The house, which was built in in 1714, was the Welsh finalist in the 2003 series of BBC2's Restoration, when it lost to Manchester's Victoria Baths in a public vote for the £3.4m first prize.