THE investigation into a blaze which ravaged a North Yorkshire stately home has hit a huge delay - a giant crane is needed to get to the answers.

Nearly three weeks on firefighters remain unable to outline the chain of events that led to the inferno at Allerton Castle, near Knaresborou-gh. Investigations have stalled until an 80ft crane can be built in the grounds of the home, so officials can fully investigate the chimney area where the inferno started.

News of the delay came as the castle's owner, US tycoon Dr Gerald Rolph, today revealed more details about the mammoth restoration task.

Firefighters initially said the probe into the cause - believed to be a chimney blaze - would be completed in about a fortnight.

But Divisional Officer Peter Hudson, fire service group manager for Harrogate area, said: "We can't get access to the area where the fire started. There's no fixed date for the investigation to finish at the moment. We are waiting for a platform and crane to be put in so a camera can be put down the chimney."

He believes an 80ft crane will be needed due to the height of the Grade I listed building.

An operational review into how crews responded to the fire is also under way. This is expected to focus on a Knaresborough fire engine called to a smaller chimney fire at the castle - three hours before the main blaze ripped through the roof and destroyed a third of the stately home.

Meanwhile, Dr Rolph said he hoped insurance would cover a "basic restoration" of the main Gothic structure. But he said the service wing, half of which was destroyed, had limited insurance and its restoration "constitutes a considerable problem".

He said the Great Hall survived "fairly intact", and all the rooms at the front of the castle were undamaged.

Dr Rolph, who heads a foundation which restored the castle, said: "The foundation, having extensively restored Allerton Castle over the last 23 years, will now endeavour to rebuild the fire damage as soon as possible."

Because of limited funds, he said modern restoration techniques and materials would be used in the understructure, although outside surfaces would look identical to those lost.

Short-term goals included stabilising the building and removing debris. Dr Rolph aims to have the library and dining room re-roofed by the end of 2005, before turning the gutted service wing into money-spinning flats and offices.

He said he hoped the castle would be open to visitors early next month.

A large marquee for wedding receptions is already up in the grounds.

Updated: 11:12 Wednesday, February 09, 2005