THE Howard family has confirmed it is discussing future plans for Castle Howard, following reports that Simon Howard is set to leave the stately home with his wife Rebecca.

The Mail on Sunday claimed that Simon's older brother Nicholas and his wife Victoria Barnsley had indicated to Simon that they intended to move in to the 18th century pile near Malton.

The newspaper reported that friends of Simon had said he was approached by Nicholas and Victoria in September and asked to step down as chairman of the board that runs Castle Howard, or face being outvoted by the directors of the private company.

It said it was understood that staff would be told tomorrow of the changes, and Rebecca and Simon, who had run Castle Howard for 30 years and lived there his whole life, were said to be 'in shock' and 'devastated'.

A statement issued to The Press by Castle Howard said: "After a newspaper piece today, all the family would like to say is that they are having discussions about current and future plans for Castle Howard and that these discussions are ongoing."

The news comes just months after Simon Howard revealed he had beaten throat cancer.

The former High Sheriff of North Yorkshire said in an article that a lump was removed from his throat and it was found to have cancerous squamous cells, but it was removed successfully and he had just completed a precautionary seven-week course of radiation therapy and was 'in the clear.'

Castle Howard, which was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh and built between 1699 and 1712, found fame under another name among TV viewers when it was chosen as the setting for the adaptation of Brideshead Revisited.