A DERELICT signal box built more than 100 years ago is set for a revamp thanks to a £3,300 grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund.

The money, given to the St Albans Signal Box Preservation Trust, will enable the group to open the listed building to the public.

Abandoned for the past quarter of a century, the two-storey building has been untouched for the past decade but was declared a historical monument in 1979.

Trust chairman and business analyst Keith Webster is excited at the prospect of seeing inside the building for the first time.

He said: "I'm not sure what sort of condition it's going to be in and I think most of the old signals have long since disappeared but I will be armed with a crowbar on Monday morning ready to open it up again."

The signal box, which is slightly south of St Albans City Station, is owned by Network Rail but the trust is hopes to get a long lease.

Mr Webster is also keen to hear from anyone with ideas for a community use for the ground floor.

Ideas include a model railway club or a music rehearsal room.

The £3,300 grant will cover 75 per cent of the refurbishment costs.

People wishing to donate money for the remaining amount should telephone Mr Webster on 01727 836131.

For more information about the signal box, visit http://www.sigbox.co.uk.

April 8, 2003 09:30