TOP British potter Mary Rose Young muses wistfully: "I can just see a gallery and a cafe there too – you know, with our own teacups. It would be the most exotic eating area you could find."

It is, the internationally-renowned potter says, something she has always wanted to do – the only trouble is, she can't find the owner of the derelict Parkend property she needs for the project.

It's Mrs Sheward's old shop in Parkend, which has been lying derelict since her death in 1982. In the intervening 29 years the property has deteriorated and is now practically a ruin.

James Young has been trying to trace the owners.

"The story in the village is that there were two people who thought that the property should have been left to them in 1982, one of them in Canada, and it's their dispute that has resulted in the property lying empty and unclaimed," he said.

"But I can't even find out who they are. I've tried the Land Registry and the Probate Department in York to establish title but it seems there are absolutely no leads at all. The council has apparently been involved in some emergency repairs over the years, but I've spoken to them and they don't seem to know of an owner.

"It's apparent that over the years other people have been on the trail too, but the fact that it's still empty proves how difficult it's been."

It is attached to the Parkend Memorial Hall and Meryl Teague of the hall committee said that the condition of Mrs Sheward's shop was a constant worry.

"There has been a continual problem of damp seeping through from next door," she said.

"We've recently noticed that the roof has suddenly dipped down at the far end – we're concerned that it will collapse and take some of ours with it. We would welcome any new owner particularly a local business like Mary Rose."

Mary Rose Young has been looking for a new gallery and workshop for a while. If she manages to buy the Parkend property she will keep her home and studio near the village but move the kiln part of the operation, into the village because it has a better electricity supply.

"At the moment we have to fire my pottery in Whitecroft, taking everything there and bringing it back," she said.

"My gallery is also my home at the moment and it's difficult to balance things like opening at the weekends with my own private life."

James Young, in charge of the property project, isn't quite sure what to do next.

"There are some very expensive agencies that claim to be able to trace people, but I'm hanging back from that because I believe I've already tried what they would try," he said.

"Even though I've asked around quite a bit I suppose I'm hoping that somebody may give me another lead. Please call me if you know anything."

James can be reached on [email protected]">[email protected] or telephone 01594 563425.