HUNDREDS SIGN UP TO SAVE HISTORIC HOUSE

And organisers have strongly rejected a councillor's claim that it could be part of a planning application with the goal of building flats.

The "Save and Preserve Cumbernauld House" petition has support from around 500 signatories at time of going to press, who have all supported the statement which is to be sent to North Lanarkshire Council and the Scottish Government.

It says: "We, the undersigned, would like North Lanarkshire Council or the Scottish Government to intervene to stop the neglect of Cumbernauld House.

"This building is part of our national heritage and should not be allowed to rot and decay. We petition the above to step in and find a proper public use for the building which will maintain and preserve a magnificent building for future generations."

The petition can be viewed at www.petitiononline.com/cnauld01/petition.html.

For the full story see this week's Cumbernauld News and Kilsyth Chronicle.