Urgent repairs will be carried out on one of Swindon's oldest buildings next week.

The Mechanics' Institute has been a fixture of the Railway Village since 1855 but has been empty since 1986 and fell into disrepair in the last few decades while different owners came and went.

Swindon Borough Council does not own the historic property that used to be a social and community centre for GWR workers, but hopes to preserve the Grade II* listed structure so that it can be brought back into use one day.

The local authority's attempts to contact the current owner have gone nowhere. So, after finishing a waiting period, it is now stepping in to carry out three days of urgent work.

This will begin on Monday March 20 and involve minor roof and patching repairs, fixing and clearing the gutter, and removing particularly large amounts of overgrowth such as the weeds in the fly tower's brickwork.

Historic England is covering the costs of the work by providing a £10,000 grant.

Once this burst of activity around the iconic landmark is finished, council officers, Historic England and local organisations will continue to work together to find a way forward for the much-loved building because they recognise its historical importance and want to see it restored in the future

Councillor Matty Courtliff is Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet member for xulture, heritage, leisure and town centre experience.

He said: “The Mechanics is an iconic part of the Railway Village and key landmark for the whole of Swindon.

“It’s a shame, under its private owners, that it has fallen into a state that needs these repairs and I’m glad to see the work about to start.

“We all want to see the building brought back into use and this work will make sure it has strong foundations for the future.

“I’d also like to reassure residents that we are not stopping at just these urgent works.

"We are continuing to work with potential partners to safeguard the future of the building and establishing how we can make it a point of public pride once again.”

The Mechanics' Institute is in Swindon's Heritage Action Zone, which aims to breathe new life into the area by unlocking the potential of historic buildings to make them more attractive to residents, businesses, tourists, and investors, and provide economic growth for the town.