DURHAM Castle's appeal for a £3m grant for repair work, including work to its roof, has been rejected by the National Lottery.

The 900-year-old castle, which houses University College, is listed as a World Heritage Site and attracts up to 50,000 visitors a year.

University bosses applied for money to repair the ancient building's roof and walls, but the Heritage Lottery Fund refused to help because the castle is owned by Durham University and is an educational establishment, rather than a public building.

Adrian Beney, the university's deputy development officer, said he and his colleagues were frustrated by the decision.

He said the Heritage Lottery Fund was being inconsistent because it had given cash to Stowe School, Buckinghamshire, and Greenwich College, Kent.

A Lottery spokeswoman said grants had to benefit members of the public as well as staff and students, and educational buildings were given low priority.

The appeal for funds has been backed by other organisations, including English Heritage, Durham County Council and One NorthEast, but the Heritage Lottery Fund said more effort should be made to attract tourists to the castle before it would consider making a grant.