TRUSTEES of an historic home today blamed money problems and foot and mouth disease for forcing them to close the building after more than 75 years.

Bosses at Chaigley Manor today admitted defeat -- just three weeks after a last ditch attempt to save the Ribble Valley children's home failed.

Only three years ago a £100,000 fund-raising campaign was supposed to safeguard the future of the home, which was originally opened as a holiday home for sick and underprivileged children.

A statement from trust chairman Nicole Cook said it was a "regrettable decision."

She said: "A combination of the financial circumstances and the latest outbreak of foot and mouth in Chipping has forced the board of trustees to close Chaigley Manor. The trustees find themselves in the position of not being able to offer children a countryside holiday.

"It is with much regret that the board has reached the decision and it is now inevitable that the buildings will have to be put up for sale."

Around 14 members of staff have been laid off from the manor, in Chaigley, in the Ribble Valley, just two months after people were urged to dig deep and help raise the £80,000 a year needed to keep it going.

The manor was bought in 1927 by the people of Hyndburn to provide a place for the borough's young people to go on holiday.

In more recent years it had become an educational and resource centre for schools from across the country, who send classes of pupils on holiday there.

It was run as a charity with the help of cash donations from Hyndburn Council.

Mrs Cook has said that the manor will probably revert to being a private home again. Leader of Hyndburn Council Peter Britcliffe said: "It's a tremendous blow."