A stately home known for its historic treasures is set to be warmed up by modern technology - plumbing heat from the lake in its 'back yard.'

Blickling Hall's Jacobean mansion with links to beheaded queen Anne Boleyn is among the first of a £30m series of 21st century green energy schemes by the National Trust.

It will see a raft of tubes sunk into the lake, which is Mecca for anglers, waterfowl and a backdrop to picnic music concerts.

Project manager Stephanie Hall said they would sit be filled with plant-based glycol 'anti-freeze' to be pumped into the main boiler room for conversion to a higher temperature to heat the hall and west wing of the building.

The result would mean the removal of two oil tanks, saving more than 25,000 litres of oil consumption, and £16,000 a year.

Miss Hall added the method would not take warmth away from the lake.

'You won't have a really cold lake. The lake will stay at a normal temperature. As long as the water is warmer than the outside temperature you can get heat from it. You can still gain heat even if the lake is frozen over.'

The life span of the 'lake collection array' was between 20 and 25 years, similar to a traditional boiler, while the natural glycol meant any leaks would not damage the environment.

It was important to reduce the Trust's reliance on fossil fuels, she added, and improving their ability to maintain National Trust heating standards was important in preserving the historic collections.

Once planning permission is obtained, the project is due to begin late summer this year. After that it should take between eight to 10 weeks to finish.