IF making your bed in the morning is a bit of a chore, save a thought for staff at one of the National Trust's grand houses.

For when they have to clean the state beds at Beningbrough Hall, near York, they even have to use scaffolding.

Staff and textile experts are currently working on a spectacularly tall bed that was built in around 1700, in the style of the Frenchman Daniel Marot, possibly by the Huguenot Francis Lapierre.

It is regarded as one of the finest Baroque state beds to survive in this country - and cleaning it is no simple task.

Scaffolding has to be erected around it before the job can start and special low-powered vacuum cleaners, with muslin over the nozzles, have to be used.

Property manager Ray Barker said: "Huge sums used to be spent on such beds, which would be the focal point of a state apartment.

"They used to be highly fashionable - and this one was produced at the height of that trend."

The crimson damask bed originally came to Beningbrough from Holme Lace, Hertfordshire, in 1918.