Council bosses have spent the last four years trying to persuade the owners of the former George Wright Building at The Crofts to carry out repairs. The 19th century Grade Two listed building - built in the revived Tudor style - has fallen into serious disrepair and has become a target for arsonists and vandals.

The council says the building has also been used for illegal drug taking, has had the lead stripped from its roof and suffered other serious damage.

It has already spent more than £4,000 making parts of the building safe and erecting fencing around it - but has so far failed to recoup the money from the building's owners, who have not been named.

Now the building is causing such concern the council is set to serve an order which will mean it can move in and carry out more urgent work itself.

A report by planning officials says: "The building still remains in a state of disrepair and is suffering from an excessive growth of plants and bushes next to it and on the parapet of the roof. There are dislodged ridge tiles and copings and chimneys are lacking lead flashings.This has made the building vulnerable.

"One prominent gable is of uncertain stability due to a hole in the wall and much eroded stonework that will probably lead to its collapse.

"Serving an Urgent Works Notice will enable us to cary out emergency repairs to make the building weathertight. In addition we will be writing to the owner setting out relevant general repairs considered necessary."

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