For motorists and pedestrians passing Watford Town Hall, the historic building may not hold much attachment.

But the one of the stars of Watford Palace Theatre's latest production has revealed a family link to the Grade II listed council building.

Bea Holland, 34, will play a number of roles in Stephen Berkoff's adaptation of Franz Kafka's The Trial, which opens for three performances next Thursday.

However, the actress, who has also appeared in The Bill and Ade Edmondson's ITV sitcom Teenage Kicks, is also the granddaughter of John Brandon-Jones, who helped to design the town hall when it was built before World War Two.

Mr Brandon-Jones, who died in 1999, grew up in Berkhamsted and worked for the architect Charles Cowles-Voysey on the town hall project when it was built in 1938.

It cost £186,000 to build and took two years to complete.

Bea said her grandfather “specifically designed the weather vane” that sits atop the clock tower.

“It's quite moving because this building is a major part of the town,” she said.

“It's just exciting thinking about him doing it. It's really nice that it's something planted in history.

“Hearing about the things he did and finding myself working in Watford, it's nice to see it.”