A reflective glass walkway proposed for the new St Albans museum, affording breathtaking views across the city centre, has received a contribution of £30,000.

Building materials supplier Tarmac Aggregates donated the money to the St Albans Museum and Gallery Trust to build the windowed walkway, called a glazed link, on the west side of the building.

Once the new museum opens next year, visitors will be able to look out from the pathway over the Georgian buildings and see St Albans Cathedral, and pedestrians in the street will be able to look up and see the clouds reflected in the glass.

It has been designed by John McAsian + Partners - the architects who designed London Kings Cross station.

The money has come from Tarmac’s Landfill Community Fund and means the museum project only needs a further £500,000 to reach its £1.7 million target for the required funds matching the Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

Cllr Annie Brewster, who has been overseeing the new museum project, said: “Tarmac recognises the importance of this county changing cultural project and I am so grateful for their enthusiastic support.

“The great thing about the Glazed Link is that it’s going to be accessible for anybody - there will be a lift up there for the first time.”

She described the architecture design as “innovative”, “contemporary”, and “wow”.

Estates manager at Tarmac, Mike Pendock, told the Herts Advertiser: “We have been supporting a number of other projects in St Albans and the county, we have a very strong presence in Hertfordshire and we are putting in a lot of effort to support businesses and cultural amenity projects.”

The museum project as a whole is costing £7.5million - builders are converting the Grade II* listed former Town Hall into a state-of-the-art visitors’ attraction.

It will feature the wide range of St Albans history - from the Roman occupation, through the life of Nicholas Breakspear and including the Battle of St Albans in the Wars of the Roses.

Tarmac is just the latest in a number of trusts, corporate entities and other benefactors who have supported the project.