A FORMER stately home, run and maintained by the county council for the last 30 years, will go on the market today.

North Yorkshire County Council inherited Grantley Hall from the old West Riding authority when local government boundaries were redrawn in 1974.

Since then, the listed building - which was once the home of shipping magnates, the Furness family - has been used as a training centre.

However, the Government squeeze on public spending has made it increasingly difficult for the council to continue running the premises and, when no new uses could be found, the council agreed last October it had no option but to put the building on the market.

Carter Jonas of Leeds, and Mouchelparkman of Northallerton, will take joint responsibility for the sale.

Leader of North Yorkshire County Council and governor of Grantley Hall, Councillor John Weighell said the authority remained concerned about the building's destiny.

He said: "The county council recognises any major changes will be subject to normal planning procedures so the community will continue to have a say in Grantley Hall's future."