MORECAMBE town hall has become a listed building after an appeal from local heritage campaigners.

Members of the Morecambe Neighbourhood Council called for the town hall to be protected in April, and heard this week that it was to be given grade two listed status.

The move was prompted by fears that the council, which had floated the idea of selling the Lancaster city museum, might look to sell the town hall to ease its financial difficulties.

The bid was prepared on behalf of the council by its chairman, Mrs Evelyn Archer, and Kay Beattie.

Mrs Archer said: "A few years ago, the council were considering selling Morecambe town hall when they were looking for cost savings. We don't know if they will consider it again, but if they did sell it, this would make it more difficult and stop anyone who bought it from knocking it to bits.

"We felt that if Kingsway baths in Lancaster could become a listed building, there is no reason why Morecambe town hall couldn't be."

A city council spokesperson said: "Morecambe town hall is the latest of Lancaster City Council's buildings to have been given listed building status.

"Others include Lancaster town hall, the city museum, Ryelands House and the Platform.

"From our point of view what this means is that in terms of renewal and rennovation work we now need to seek listed building consent and that means in terms of caring for the building it does become a more lengthy and complex process."

The town hall was built in the 1930s, at a cost of £40,000, with funding from the unemployment grants committee.

The work was carried out by local builders Edmondson Bros and opened by the Lord Mayor of London in June 1932.

Among the unique features picked out by the department is the large mosaic in the entrance hall, bearing the Morecambe town crest.

However, since the application for listed building status was submitted, a cave-in has hit the town hall roof which, Mrs Archer hopes, will soon be restored to its former glory.