Poltimore House goes forward to the final of the Restoration series

Poltimore House, near Exeter, beat off competition from Whitfield Tabernacle and Arnos Vale, both situated in Bristol.

The programme asked viewers to vote to save Britain's most endangered buildings.

Poltimore House will now go forward with nine other regional winners to the final on 14 September, when BBC viewers will vote for the building they would most like to save from dereliction.

Announcing the results on Friday night, Restoration programme presenter Griff Rhys-Jones said: "There was a massive response to the South West heat and this was the closest race yet - the voting was neck and neck.

Poltimore House has fallen into disrepair in recent years

"Poltimore House crept into the lead at the last moment."

Poltimore House has been a jewel in Exeter's countryside since the late 16th Century.

It played host to the signing of the surrender of Exeter during the English Civil War.

In the 20th Century it saw service as a school and a nursing home.

Around �100,000 of public money has already been spent on the house to prevent further decay.

But an estimated �10m is needed to restore it fully.

The Poltimore House Trust bought the building in 1999 and is now fighting to save it.

If it wins the final, the house will be transformed into a centre of contemporary arts.