A petition has been set up demanding action to improve the state of two eyesores in the heart of Fakenham.

Fakenham resident Dawn Wakefield, 53, is behind the petition and she wants North Norfolk District Council to increase pressure on the man who owns both the former flower shop and paints store at 57 Oak Street which has been derelict for more than 20 years, and some outbuildings in Star Yard, just a few metres away, which she believes are about 400 years old.

The outbuildings had been left in such a poor state that they started to collapse last year, and the district council did step in to make them safe. B but no further action has been taken.

The petition is now on North Norfolk District Council's website and will be live for three months.

Miss Wakefield, who was a district councillor for the Raynhams ward near Fakenham from 2007 until last year, when she stepped down due to ill- health, said: 'I hope to get at least 1,500 signatures because, as I understand it, this will mean that NNDC's full council will have to discuss the matter and this could mean that something gets done about it.

'If I don't get that many signatures at least I will be raising an issue of local concern.

'I have lived in Hempton and Fakenham for 20 years and all that time the 57 Oak Street building has been left in a neglected state. I walk past it every day and it is a real eyesore and a waste of useable town centre property.

'I am equally concerned about these outbuildings which are historical buildings that are just being left to rot.'

Miss Wakefield said this has been a concern for her for several years and she had raised it with the Fakenham councillor in the past.

She was prompted to set up the petition after reading a story about the buildings in the press last month.

Miss Wakefield, who is a music and dance teacher, said: 'The district council does have power to take action on eyesores like these.

'It might not have the finances and resources to make a compulsory purchase order, but I feel more could be done to put pressure on the owner to sell the buildings to someone who is prepared to do something with them.'

The sign the petition go to http://petitions.web-labs.co.uk/northnorfolk/public//