English Heritage wants to build a gate more than six feet high at Ashby Castle to keep out trespassers.

The charity, which manages over 400 historic monuments, buildings and places, is seeking planning permission for the installation of railings at the Great Tower tunnel entrance - and replacement of gates and fencing on western boundary.

The two metre high gate would be designed to keep out unwanted visitors - and stop vandalism and anti-social behaviour at the Castle. which dates back to the late 1400s.

A Heritage Report has been presented to North West Leicestershire District Council which reads: It is proposed to upgrade the current timber gates on the western boundary of the site to remove an easy access point.

"The Castle suffers from regular out of hours trespass incidents, which have resulted on numerous occasions in vandalism and damage to the site.

"A number of measures have been taken over recent years, including planting hostile-hedging along the accessible boundaries, installation of CCTV, liaising with stakeholders, and close liaison with the police.

"It is known that these waist-height gates and fence provide a low-level access to trespassers, and as part of a site review following various incidents, English Heritage's National Security Advisor has recommended that the height of this gate is increased to prevent access from this side of the perimeter.

"The proposed gates would be 2.0m high, with each gate 1.9m in width. The gates would be tailor made using oak on a galvanised steel frame, powder coated in black.

"The installation of the new gates and fence will be of public benefit in limiting the opportunities for trespassers to gain easy access to the site, and thereby better protecting this nationally important heritage asset."