Progress being made with repairs at Alnwick's White Swan hotel

Work at the White Swan on Bondgate Within started on February 18 and is expected to take eight weeks.

The process of removing the balcony and stone façade will be followed by its replacement.

A significant piece of the balcony became disconnected from the structure of the building in 2018. A safety review then established that the entire balcony structure was at risk and the area by the arch was unstable.

Planning permission for the repairs was granted last autumn but, as part of the planning requirements, the company was required to produce and undertake a significant amount of pre-commencement works before getting the all-clear to proceed from Northumberland County Council.

The Grade II-listed building dates from the 18th century.

Its most distinctive feature is the Olympic Suite, a large room furnished with interior decorations from the RMS Olympic – the sister ship of Titanic.