Work on Dyffryn House's gardens is also under way

Dyffryn House in the Vale of Glamorgan is undergoing �1m of renovations to bring it back to its former glory.

But work on the Grade II listed building is having to be rushed over the winter months to ensure the bats are not disturbed.

The building, which has been empty for a number of years, is the home to colonies of several species of bat.

Architect Nick Lloyd from the Vale of Glamorgan council explained: "Dyffryn House has bats in its roof space and has done for a number of years.

"Roosting bats are protected by law so the work in Dyffryn House has been timed to suit the bats.

"We are going to do the work during the winter months and will probably start in the next few weeks."

Pipistrelle bats are among the hundreds that live in the roof

The 18th Century house is famed for its Edwardian gardens which have been listed as Grade I in Cadw's register of landscapes, parks and gardens of special historic interest in Wales.

Work is currently underway on restoring the gardens to the landscape architect Thomas Mawson designed for John Cory in 1906.

In 2005, its owner, the Vale of Glamorgan council, announced it would spend �1m restoring the house.

This work includes re-roofing the building.

Bat dormers

"The process over the winter months is to ensure that the bats don't hibernate in the roof," explained Mr Lloyd.

"But we are putting in quite a few measures to encourage them to return when the work is done.

"It includes installing bat dormers that allows the bats to enter the roof space.

"The work is due to start in the next few weeks and is timed to last until March with the majority of the work being done in that time."