CARNFORTH'S troubled Leighton Hall stately home has been given a boost after a glowing report from English Heritage.

The hall, formerly the home of the Gillow furniture making family, faced a cash crisis after Government inspectors blocked plans for a timeshare plan.

However, a report by renowned heritage management consultant Norman Hudson said: "Leighton is managed more tightly than other similar sized houses.

"There are no glaringly apparent deficiencies either in the way in which the house is promoted or managed on a day to day basis."

Richard Reynolds, whose family has lived in the home for over 200 years, added: "We cannot afford the same objections to come up again in the future.

"One of HM Inspector's comments was that we had not adequately justified the need for the extra income.

"In order to ensure future developments are not rejected on the same grounds, we recruited Norman Hudson to carry out an independent assessment of the hall's management and financial performance."