VANDALS targeting the former Prestwich Town Hall have placed the empty Grade Two listed building under threat.

And unless the owners act now to protect the early 19th-century detached villa, Bury Council will step in to protect the former Manor Park nursing home from further destruction.

The Italianate-style building has been standing desolate since it closed as a nursing home two years ago.

In June, 1999, the Bury Times reported that elderly residents were given just nine days notice to find alternative accommodation after "financial" reasons forced the proprietors to take action.

It was put up for sale and remains on the market. However, it is believed a recent application to convert the property into flats has been presented by a local company.

Despite attempts to protect the building by boarding up the windows and doors, vandals have daubed the exterior walls with graffiti and destroyed some of its ironwork.

Thieves have also broken in and damaged the grand fireplace surround and painted galls windows which were key architectural features.

There have also been arson attempts on the building.

Members of Bury's planning control committee are preparing to step in and grant permission for the authority to serve notice on the current owner, who they believed to be a Mr Keith Edwards, to undertake "urgent works" to preserve the unoccupied listed building.