A house next to the site of a proposed cattery is soon to be demolished and rebuilt... proving it, too, has nine lives.

While an extension was being built at Rose Cottage, Rillington, near Malton, it was discovered that an old well more than five metres deep lay under the intended line of one of the walls.

Attempts were made to have the cottage underpinned, but this failed and now the cottage has to be taken down and re-built on the same site - once the well has been filled in.

Stewart McPherson, 34, who owns the property with partner David Richardson, 28, said: "When we started underpinning, the walls started collapsing."

He said: "When we started building the extension, we discovered a well that had not been filled in properly and had grassed over."

Stewart and David have vowed not to be outdone by problems with the cottage as owning it is giving them a chance to live out their dreams.

David fell in love with the cottage as a child and has wanted to live there ever since, while the property gives Stewart the opportunity of attaining his ambition to operate a cattery on a commercial basis.

According to local accounts, it is not the first time the cottage - which dates back to 1750 - has been rebuilt. It was apparently built as a toll house on the old turnpike road between York and Scarborough, and then taken down stone-by-stone and rebuilt a short distance away to take advantage of a better site.

David, a material controller at Malton Bacon Factory, and his brother, Mark, hope to start work on demolishing the cottage next week before rebuilding it.

The grounds will also contain accommodation for Stewart's seven Border terriers, as he is a well-known local dog breeder.

Ryedale district councillors gave permission last October for the cattery proposals, even though planning officers had advised them to refuse the application.

Since the application was approved, the Highways Agency has indicated it wants a double-width access on to the A64 and asked for other matters to be taken into consideration. So work on the cattery has been put on hold.

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