RESTORATION work at a fire-hit stately home in North Yorkshire received a boost today with news that a centrepiece room has been brought back to its pre-blaze condition.

Although not seriously damaged by the inferno that destroyed a third of historic Allerton Castle, the restoration of its Great Hall will be seen as a landmark in the multi-million pound rebuild project.

Owner Gerald Rolph, the US business tycoon, vowed to restore the property to its former glory in the wake of January's fire.

Civil wedding ceremonies are now being held at the venue, near Knaresborough - and the Great Hall is popular with brides and grooms who use the centrepiece staircase on their big day.

Kate Garritt, event manager at the castle, said: "The adjacent dining room was lost, but the Great Hall survived the fire pretty much intact. It is now back to its former glory. We have had to put temporary panelling in and repair smoke and water damage.

"There is still some French polishing that needs to be done, but the worst of the water damage has now been rectified."

Unaffected rooms, including the billiard, ballroom and drawing rooms, have also been cleaned.

The dining room, which was destroyed, should be restored by next February. The plan is to replace the historic oak-panelling lost in the blaze with plastered walls covered by tapestries and stained glass repaired.

Mrs Garritt said she hoped the library would be up and running by this June after water damage to the ceiling.

She said Dr Rolph was now back in Florida, but was being regularly updated on the renovation.

"He's still very determined to get everything up and running as quickly as possible," said the event manager.

The first civil ceremony since the fire was held on March 12, and organisers say an average of two a week are booked from then.

Meanwhile, fire investigators have confirmed that structural problems at the Grade I Listed building are still stalling the probe into what caused the inferno.

An already-delayed report was due by the end of March. But North Yorkshire fire chief Trevor Lund today said instability to the chimney - believed to be the seat of the fire - and problems putting up a giant crane in the grounds had led to further hold-ups.

Updated: 10:38 Friday, April 01, 2005