Shugborough Estate will close early before National Trust handover

But when the attraction, based north of Cannock Chase, reopens on March 21 it will stay open for the rest of the year except Christmas Day, as the charity implements its new operating model straight away.

Staffordshire County Council will formally hand the keys over to the trust on November 1, cutting its lease 49 years short.

Shugborough was set to close on October 21 ahead of the transfer but now the council has confirmed that has been brought forward to September 30.

The authority has reassured staff expecting to work throughout the whole of October will not lose any hours or wages although they will be carrying out different duties.

While people who had paid for a Privilege Pass to visit the attraction up until the original closure date will receive a month's free access next year.

Mark Winnington, the council's Economic Growth boss, said: "After careful consideration, and following discussion with the National Trust, the last day of opening at Shugborough will be on September 30th to allow time for all the work and preparation which needs to be completed before the estate can be returned to the National Trust on November 1st.

"In addition, we have agreed with the National Trust that Privilege Pass holders will be entitled to a month's free access in 2017 to compensate for the loss of a month's access this year."

A spokesman for the National Trust said they supported the decision.

At this stage the charity was unable to confirm how workers would be affected by the transfer but it is understood dozens of people are set to lose their jobs.

The council's operating model saw 35 full-time roles, 52 seasonal staff and 115 volunteers on the books although in recent years the authority has been losing more than £650,000 annually due to the running of Shugborough.

In April one worker, who asked not to be named, claimed only eight current staff would be kept on.

Following the latest developments they said: "There is apparently much work to do to clear spaces and places of items and equipment which the National Trust will not require and staff may have to face the dreadful job of 'clearing out' the estate before it is handed over on the 1st November."