A popular village tourist attraction could be in line to receive up to £1.65million in funding to build state-of-the-art improvements and draw in visitors.

The Colne Valley Railway, in Castle Hedingham, is visited by about 40,000 people each year.

But it is hoped that the site will see boosted numbers after the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) confirmed a £66,000 grant to the Colne Valley Railway Preservation Society (CVRPS) this week.

The grant will be used to draw up proposals with architects and surveyors over the next two years to create a skills “centre of excellence” to restore and overhaul railway carriages and engines as well as an interactive museum detailing the history of the railway.

If the HLF are pleased with the proposals, the full £1.65million could be granted.

See this week's Halstead Gazette for the full story.