The charity caring for Arundells - the home of former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath - is drawing up plans to sell the house and its contents against the wishes of campaigners.

Five years after Sir Edward's death at the age of 89, plans are being made to sell the house, located in the grounds of Salisbury Cathedral, and distribute the proceeds to various organisations specified in Sir Edward’s will.

The decision by the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Trust has come after a heated debate on what the future of the luxury home should be.

While the charity had expressed its wishes to sell the £6m house, a dedicated group of campaigners wished to run the house on a voluntary basis and assure its survival as a tourist attraction.

The Charity Commission has been asked to approve the sale.  A spokeswoman said: "The trustees of the Edward Heath Charitable Foundation have contacted the Charity Commission to seek permission to dispose of the charity's assets.

"The Commission has already given authorisation for the disposal of the archive of Sir Edward Heath's papers. We have received an application for permission to sell Arundells, the former Prime Minister's home.

"We remain in contact with the charity and have met with the trustees. We are currently considering their application. Should it be approved, there would be a period of public notice during which anyone could make representations to the Commission about the proposals.”

The house was Sir Edward’s home for the last 20 years of his life and first started taking visitors in 2008.