Plans have been lodged to protect a stained-glass window at High Wycombe’s historic Guildhall from vandalism.

A listed building application has been submitted to repair the window on the western side of the Grade I-listed landmark and install protective wire mesh outside it.

Planning documents say the bottom of the stained-glass window, which measures approximately 1.24 metres by 2.45 metres, is bowing.

The proposed repair would flatten the affected section to prevent further movement and reduce the risk of the stained glass failing in the future.

A stainless-steel wire guard would also be fitted externally because the window is considered vulnerable to vandalism due to its location in the town centre.

The design and access statement said councillors had requested the protective grill.

It would be powder-coated black to make it less conspicuous against the window and installed in a way that would be reversible.

The statement said the council’s heritage team had been consulted and had advised that the guard should be reversible.

The proposed stainless-steel guard would also be maintenance-free and would not rust or deteriorate, according to the application.

The Guildhall was built in 1757 on the site of an earlier guildhall erected in 1604.

Designed by architect Henry Keene and built at the expense of the Earl of Shelburne, it features an open, arcaded ground floor and an octagonal cupola.

Its prominent position at right angles to the High Street means the building makes a significant contribution to the surrounding street scene.