Alderney's 'forgotten fort' reopens

It is known as Alderney's 'forgotten fort' but that is about to change, thanks to some serious groundwork.

Volunteers have spent months clearing Fort Doyle, which is on the island's northern coast.

The site was made unrecognisable through brambles, weeds and litter, but now once again resembles the battery that was completed in 1854 to defend against the French.

It reopened to the public during the Easter weekend.

Admission is free and it is hoped that it will be open throughout the summer and beyond once further refurbishment is complete.

The well-preserved Victorian fort with its additional World War II fortifications stands on the headland between Platte Saline and Crabby Bay.

Doyle's Battery is the smallest fort on the island and originally accommodated four guns with barracks for 22 men, officers' quarters, cookhouse, magazine and artillery stores.

Dr Trevor Davenport who is the President of the Alderney Society says the team has a clear vision of which project is next in their sights: "We've cleared two of the batteries at Tourgis which is a maintenance problem. There's a third called Battery Number One and that hasn't been cleared because we can't get machinery into it and it'll have to be done by hand. We've had a go at it and started and that will be our next project."