THE dilapidated house of a convicted paedophile is set to be renovated in Earby after councillors ruled it was an eyesore.

But town hall chiefs have insisted that the cost to the taxpayer of repairing the home of Anthony Eccleston, in Albion Street, Earby, can be recouped.

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The end-terrace home near Earby town centre, once occupied by Eccleston before he was jailed for two years for sex offences involving young boys in 2011, has seen windows and doors broken.

Back in 2012, Pendle Council had been forced to step in and carry out emergency work to a dangerous chimney stack, at a cost to the authority of just under £1,000.

Councillors have now been asked to come up with a further £6,800 to carry out repairs which would make the house fit for human habitation.

The property’s owner has indicated he would like to return to the house – which is currently boarded up and vacant – but he has no funds with which to carry out the necessary works.

Executive board members have now decided to step in and carry out the repairs, and leave a charge remaining on the property.

This would remain in place if the house is later sold – and ultimately if the debt is not repaid then the council could take further steps to enforce a sale.

Neil Watson, the council’s planning and building control manager, said: “This house is in a very poor state of repair and its condition is having a negative impact on the neighbourhood.”

Cllr David Whipp said: “The Albion Street property is causing considerable concern. Getting urgent repairs carried out and then sorting out the long-term future of the house is the speediest way of dealing with the issue.”

Councillors also heard that the property’s owner had been taken to court and successfully prosecuted and fined over the condition of the house, but no improvements had since followed.

Eccleston, then aged 78, was jailed at Burnley Crown Court after he enticed boys aged 12 to 15 to his home, with the promise of cigarettes and access to soft-porn magazines.

He then carried out a sex act on one boy, who had learning difficulties, and tried to get another boy to have sex with him, the court was told.

Another option open to councillors was to compulsorily purchase the home, for which the owner placed a value of £120,000, despite its current condition.