THE man at the centre of a long-running planning row at South Littleton, Nicholas Parker-Jervis has died.

He was taken to hospital in Worcester after he was found ill at home and died a few days later on April 30 at the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch.

The dispute he had with Wychavon District Council was over the restoration of South Littleton Manor, a Listed house which the council alleged he had allowed to fall into disrepair.

The most recent council decision was to take action to take the necessary steps to repair the Grade II* house where retired businessman Mr Parker-Jervis, aged 75, had lived for 30 years, latterly on his own.

Ian Marshall, head of legal services at Wychavon, said: "We are very sorry to hear of the demise of Mr Parker-Jervis. In terms of the building itself we now hopeful that we will be able to see the restoration of the building achieved at a relatively early date."

He said the department had been in dialogue with Mrs Parker-Jervis, who lives in Cheltenham, and it seemed likely there would be good co-operation.

Mr Parker-Jervis, educated at Eton and Cambridge, was a stockbroker.

He married Elizabeth Morgan, a member of a well-known Cardiff family, and he is survived by her, two sons, a daughter and two grandchildren.

The funeral service takes place at Cheltenham Crematorium at 12 noon next Monday (May 12).