Visitors hoping to take in the beauty of some of Britain's most iconic stately homes have had their days out ruined by properties largely shut amid a volunteer shortage.
The National Trust is known the world over for the magnificent period properties it looks after, with more than five million members supporting its roster of 200-plus historic houses.
Each year millions of people visit its properties, which star in period dramas such as Brideshead Revisited and Jane Eyre.
