THE National Trust has announced it cannot raise the £3.25-million needed to buy Endsleigh House and Gardens, near Tavistock.

The trust had been approached by the owners of the 108-acre estate to discuss its long term future, after they put it on the market last week.

But the conservation charity is not in a position to purchase

Endsleigh, because of outstanding repair costs and the need for an endowment to cover annual running costs.

Mark Harold, National Trust regional director, said the trust was 'very disappointed' not to be able to take over the grade 1 listed main house and its surrounding land.

'The scale of the heritage protection task in this country is enormous and sadly it means that we cannot take on everything, much as we would like to.

'Our hope is that through the current sale process the owners of Endsleigh will be able to secure a solution to ensure that the estate is kept together for the benefit of local people and the nation,' said Mr Harold.