THE Bala Lake Railway (BLR) Trust has been awarded a grant of £23,000 for its Red Dragon Project.

Money received from the Magnox Socio Economic Fund will be used to help extend the Bala Lake Railway to a new terminus in Bala.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority established the fund to mitigate the impact that decommissioning its nuclear power stations would have on local communities.

BLR Trust members say their grant will go towards the engineering consultancy necessary for the extension designs, including Natural Resources Wales works for a forthcoming scheme to upgrade flood defences along Llyn Tegid.

BLR Trust Chairman Julian Birley BEM said: “This is fantastic news that gives further impetus to a project that continues to build momentum.

“There are so many people on board and it has got the town buzzing. With the necessary land purchases well in hand, we are getting nearer to the magic moment when we can start laying track, although we still have a lot to do before then.”