With its peeling paintwork and ragged curtains wafting eerily through cracked windows, Arnside looks every part the classic haunted house.

All that’s missing - perhaps - is a ghost!

But work to bring the old building back to life has been spooked by quite another spectre - the unseen menace of coronavirus.

Refurbishment work was due to begin at Easter, but thanks to Covid-19 and the government’s stop on all construction projects, the scheme has had to be delayed until further notice.

A public notice posted up at the site says that the property is checked on a regular notice.

Planning permission (19/01101/B) was secured in December for Arnside’s refurbishment.

David Roberts, of Knock Rushen, Scarlett, applied to renovate the three-storey home including removal of chimney stacks, replacement of roof slates with tiles and alterations to windows and doors.

Planning officer Stephen Butler noted that the ’property itself is in a bad state of repair and requires some form of revitalisation, especially as the substantial flora has been removed and the property is now in full view of the street scene’.

Arnside’s grey pebbledash will be replaced with a smooth render but the distinctive red brick accents to the corners will be retained.

Removal of two substantial chimney stacks would not have a massive impact, said the planning officer, who added: ’Whilst the renovation works are removing several of the features of this property, they are keeping features which make the property stand out within the streetscene such as the entranceway into the property, the bay windows and the red brick detailing.’