A dilapidated and damaged building near Appleby - which was the subject of a number of complaints - has been tidied up.

Eden District Council has carried out work on the building on Parking Hill Road, south of the town, after legal notices were served on its owner.

The building is in a prominent location when travelling to Appleby from the villages of Maulds Meaburn, Great Asby or Crosby Ravensworth.

A spokesman for Eden District Council said: "The owner was encouraged to carry out remedial works to improve the condition and appearance of the building, particularly after a car crashed into the side of the property in 2013.

"However when the works were not carried out voluntarily the council issued notice requiring the owner to remove all rubble from the front of the land, repair the damaged wall and board up all windows.

"Councils can issues untidy land notice when the condition and appearance of the land is such that it causes harm to the local area.

"The owner failed to comply with the notice which constitutes a criminal offence, but it also provides council’s with the powers to enter the land carry out the required works and charge the owner for the council’s reasonable costs.

"The council chose the latter course as prosecuting the owner would not have resolved the matter and the condition and appearance of the building would have still been an eyesore when travelling to and from Appleby."