THE ultimate spring clean is under way in a North-East castle as staff tidy 144 rooms ready for the start of the visitor season.

Raby Castle at Staindrop, County Durham, opens at Easter and since it closed in September last year, custodian Roly Marshall has been working to ensure the rooms are cleaned from top to bottom.

Each of the 18 rooms open to the public, many of which contain antique furniture and paintings, is emptied and cleaned. Wood is waxed, surfaces are dusted, metal is polished and even the chandeliers are taken apart and washed.

The public rooms take about a week to clean, but the rest of the rooms in the castle are also cleaned annually.

Mr Marshall said: "There are just two of us responsible for cleaning and throughout the summer we try to keep on top of everything. But when the castle closes for the winter we make sure no surface is untouched."

Every window is taken out of its frame and washed, and scaffolding is also put up in each room to allow the walls and high ceilings to be cleaned.

Mr Marshall saidd: "It's hard work and by the time we're ready to open, my fingers are all blistered. But it's very satisfying when you see everything all clean and tidy. You won't see a cobweb anywhere.