FINE artworks are being removed from an Ulverston mansion that had become a playground for young vandals.

A triptych of oil-painted panals are to be taken from Stone Cross Mansion for expensive restoration work by site owners Persimmon Homes in August.

One of the pictures, by 19th century artist Lucien Victor Besch, had been slashed and another poked with holes during a prolonged period of vandalism at the empty Gothic manor which suffered a fire on April 30.

A 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of arson but no charges were brought.

Since the blaze - which gutted the main tower and second floor of the east wing - South Lakeland District Council said Persimmon had been "very positive" about protecting the building from further deterioration.

Up to then SLDC had gone so far as preparing an urgent works notice which would have left Persimmon picking-up the bill for essential maintenance carried out by SLDC.

The authority drafted the order after only a partial response to two warning letters demanding extra security and maintenance in January and February.

After the fire, a 24-hour on-site security guard was hired and SLDC conservation officer Graham Darlington reported that vandalism had been cut to "practically nothing".

Meanwhile, Persimmon and SLDC are locked in talks about the future of the site.

The firm wants to convert Stone Cross into 20 luxury apartments with another 20 to 25 mews style' homes in the grounds.

Persimmon land manager John Oliver said the new homes were necessary to fund the conversion, adding that this would have been the case regardless of the deterioration of the building.

"A standard build would be £80 or £90 a square foot this will be in excess of £250 because you have got to do it in sympathy with the building."

He blamed SLDC for the time taken to develop a plan for the building's future use, their first scheme had been submitted to the authority 18 months ago.

But Mr Darlington said the initial plan had been unacceptable since it was attached to the manor and was almost as big as the original building.

"It took them a number of months to come back with an alternative and that did not take account of the advice we gave them," he said.

SLDC and English Nature are now waiting for figures from Persimmon that demonstrate the firm needs the new build to bring the manor house conversion up to an acceptable standard.