Lottery grant for historic Northampton steam roller
A bid to restore an historic Northamptonshire steam road roller so it can be put on public display has won a £50,000 Big Lottery grant.
The project run by the Northampton and Lamport Railway Preservation Society aims to restore the Allchin Roller 1131 which was built in Northampton in 1899.
The grant will allow the restoration of the roller, which was used by the local council until the 1960s.
It later took part in carnival parades through the streets of Northampton.
The roller, which is one of only a handful of early rollers still in existence, later fell into disrepair.
Sharon Skinner, the Allchin Roller project manager, said on hearing the news of the grant she was "absolutely overjoyed".
"I could not speak. It took me by surprise. I am over the moon," she said.
Ms Skinner said she hoped it could take part in the 2012 Northampton carnival.