Pressure is growing for something to be done with a derelict hotel at one of north Cumbria's most popular beauty spots - before it is too late.

People in Brampton have expressed their concerns about the dilapidated state of the former Tarn End House Hotel, at Talkin Tarn, near Brampton.

Their comments come after it was revealed an appeal by the owner, Citadel Estates, against Carlisle City Council's decision to refuse planning permission, had been dismissed.

Jenny Pattinson's family ran Tarn End House Hotel for more than a decade and it had been a hotel for many years before that.

Her parents David and Vivienne Ball took it on in the early 1990s.

They performed the cooking duties, maintained the gardens and catered for a number of weddings and events. It was also their home.

Photos show how well-kept the hotel was back in 2003 and now what it has come to be.

Jenny's sister had her wedding reception and one of her children's Christenings there.

The family were hard hit by foot and mouth and struggled to build the business back up.

Now 47, Jenny, of Brampton, has only just been able to bring herself to visit the tarn.

But she avoids looking at the building as she walks past.

"I look the other way. I don't look at the hotel I look at the water. It's just not nice to look at anymore," she said.

"It holds a lot of memories for me and I remember all the customers and weddings.

"I just wish I could win the Lottery and return it to its former glory."

The national planning inspectorate dismissed Citadel Estates' appeal in December.

Proposals - which were refused in March 2016 - sought permission to convert the existing building into six two bedroom apartments and to transform the redundant outbuildings to form a dozen more, including four new-builds.

Citadel Estates lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate in November.

The inspector, Elaine Gray, said she was unable to conclude whether the scheme was a "last resort".

But she dismissed the appeal on the grounds that "moderate benefits which would accure from the scheme would not outweigh the loss of significance of the non-designated heritage asset, or the harm to the character and appearance of the area."

She added that the scheme "would not contribute to a sustainable pattern of development, and so would fail to meet the local and national policy objectives of promoting sustainability".

David Moorat, chairman of Brampton Parish Council, walks at the tarn almost every day and has spoken to a number of local people about the state of the building.

He said: "I'm fairly confident in saying that the general opinion in Brampton is that this is an eyesore.

"It's a great disappointment."

Mr Moorat is adamant the Tarn End House Hotel should remain a hotel.

"It's in the most delightful place and nobody can understand why a hotel in this place could possibly fail," he said.

He thinks planners should have put a caveat on the building to ensure it be developed within a certain period of the sale.

"I can't understand why they didn't insist that it should be developed and not allowed to become a ruin," he added.

Nick Elgey, commercial director of Citadel Estates, said the firm had tried to strike a balance between a scheme that respects the building and was commercially viable.

He said: “We wholeheartedly agree with the public’s wish to see this local landmark building restored as soon as possible and we are pleased that the principle of redevelopment is agreed in the inspector’s decision.

"We will now work with our team on a revised scheme to be submitted imminently.”

The company is considering its options.