Work to restore an historic hall has been further delayed.

People interested in developing the grade II-listed Braunstone Hall, in Leicester, had until last month to submit plans of how they intended to develop the building.

It was hoped that a developer would be chosen soon after and work would start next year.

But the council said because two of the three interested companies needed more time to finalise their intentions, the deadline had been extended.

A council spokeswoman said: "While this adds time to our developer selection process, we are very pleased to have this level of interest and believe the future of the hall is best served by ensuring all of the proposals can be properly considered."

She said the winning scheme would probably be named in the autumn.

Other applications would be considered until a developer had been chosen, she said.

Lee Clarke, of the Restore Braunstone Hall campaign group, said: "I have made my feelings to the council very clear – it should stop dragging its heels, accept an offer and get on with undertaking some of the work."