MANCHESTER United soccer star Gary Neville is attempting his own piece of restoration to bring a derelict hamlet back from the dead.

The Bury-born defender wants to renovate a historic Grade II listed farmhouse as a home for his family at Top o' th' Knotts farm in Tottington Road, Harwood.

He also plans to rebuild six dilapidated homes and a cottage nearby with the aim of selling them to recoup the cost of the renovation.

The farmhouse, which he claims will soon be beyond repair, was built in 1786 and anecdotal evidence suggests the hamlet was later home to a community of 60 people.

The census of 1851 records the jobs of its inhabitants as a wheelwright, a farm labourer and a loom weaver.

One two-year-old inhabitant is recorded as the farmer!

In a report to the planning committee, a spokesman for the England star said: "This building is an important piece of local heritage.

"Its refurbishment will ensure that the local community retain a building of character and a reminder of the past in this area.

"Without significant investment care and maintenance the building is at risk of deteriorating beyond repair."

In an application received by Bolton Council's planning committee, Mr Neville asks for consent to make alterations to a listed building and to change its use to a dwelling.

The farmhouse is typical of its era with exposed timber beams supporting first floor joists.

But a number of the buildings are said to be threatened by damp and alarming bulges in the walls.

If the application is approved, the work will be carried out by Manchester-based architects AEW Architects and Designers who have been behind a number of high profile redevelopments in the city.

They have promised a "sensitive restoration" of the farmhouse and that modern additions to the other buildings will incorporate as many of the original features as possible.

Bradshaw councillor Paul Brierley said he backed the scheme if it respected the buildings' architectural features. He said: "There are no end of derelict buildings around in need of work to bring them back to their former glory."