AN opening event to mark the restoration of a 17th century farmhouse has been pushed back due to "unforeseen circumstances".

Pound Farm, in Dovercourt, was scheduled to open to the public this weekend, to unveil the major renovation work to the Grade II listed farmhouse which was once feared to be on the brink of collapse.

The house was dilapidated to the point where part of the back of the building, in Main Road, had already crumbled and fallen away.

Major work began to restore the building in January 2016.

A Pound Farm spokesman said: "Due to unforeseen circumstances the opening for Pound Farm has been delayed for about two to three weeks.

"More work is needed to be carried out before the project is complete."

"We will notify everyone as soon as we get a completion date for the work."