COUNTY council bosses have unveiled discrete security cameras to deter vandals at the historic Gawthorpe Hall.

Minor vandalism and anti-social behaviour, including youths congregating in the grounds of the Elizabethan landmark, has prompted the proposals, now lodged with Burnley Council.

Detailed talks with English Heritage and the Friends of Gawthorpe Hall has now resulted in a solution which it is hoped will not spoil the outlook of the National Trust venue, which is managed by the authority.

Architects' agent Nicholas Dale said: "It has proven impossible to design a technically acceptable scheme with the cameras physically attached to the building itself.

"It has also proven technically impossible to provide a scheme giving the desired degree of coverage, and the remote monitoring of the CCTV imagery required, with the camera columns positioned further away from the building."

Instead three camera columns will be installed at three strategic spots in the grounds, which are each afforded some tree cover to minimise the impact on the main hall, which dates back to 1608.

The columns will be six metres high and be fitted with both infra-red sensors and loudspeakers. An additional camera may also be fitted within the moat.

Home to the Shuttleworth family down the centuries, the Grade I listed hall was significantly remodelled by Sir Charles Barry, the Houses of Parliament architect, in the mid-19th century.

The gardens, created by Barry for Sir Richard Kay-Shuttleworth between 1850 and 1856 are grade two listed in their own right.

Julie Bell, the applicant on behalf of the county council, said: "Careful consideration has been given to locating the CCTV columns in such a way that they stand with trees behind them, but have an unimpeded view of the relevant sections of the hall.

"The cameras should cause minimal detriment to the appreciation of the hall's overall massing and elevations, though this has been hard to achieve to the west of the building.

"Once the columns are in location it should still be possible get unimpeded views of the building both from the gardens to the south and grounds to the north.

"It should also be possible to get unimpeded views of the building looking outwards."

The final decision on the application will rest with Burnley Council's development control committee later this year.