HISTORIC England will support a plan to demolish a listed Keighley building and re-build it across the Pennines.

Last month Network Rail revealed plans to move a vacant signal box just outside of Keighley station to Irlam Station in Lancashire.

That station is undergoing a major community led regeneration, and the box would be rebuilt as a "museum of signalling."

Bradford Council are expected to decide on the proposals next month, and Historic England has now written to the authority to support the scheme.

Their letter says: "Historic England has no objection to the proposals but we recommend your authority consider appropriate mechanisms to ensure the rebuilding of the signal box in the proposed location."

The Railway Heritage Trust has also written a letter of support for the scheme, saying: " The relocation to Irlam will mean that the box is on display to the public, and in the care of a body that has already shown its competence in restoring historic buildings to a high standard."

Salford Council has already approved plans to install a signal box at Irlam, and Ben Dolan, Strategic Director for that authority, has written to the Council, urging them to support the application.

Built to control the junction between the main line and the Oxenhope(Worth Valley) branch line, the Midland Railway Box was built in 1884. It was moved 19 metres to its current location in 1995.

The planning application says; "Because of the nature of the redundant facility the minimum care and attention has been paid to the structure, although despite the loss of lead from the roof and a number of glazing panels the box itself is in reasonable condition."