HUNDREDS of visitors took the opportunity to look around parts of the district’s heritage not normally open to the public.

Included in the programme of tours, events, lectures and activities focusing on architecture and culture to mark Heritage Open Days was a chance to look around the old St Albans Odeon, now set to reopen as an independent cinema, visit the newly-opened Wheathampstead Railway Station and tour the Abbey Gateway in St Albans.

A Giant Monopoly Game was held in parts of the district and among a number of special walks was one organised by St Albans Civic Society following in the footsteps of cinema pioneer Arthur Melbourne-Cooper and a Story of the Ver river walk.

In addition, the Alban Arena lifted its carpet in the foyer of the theatre to reveal the Roman mosaic which has been covered for the past two decades.

Heritage Open Days is a national scheme which allows access free of charge for a few days a year to interesting properties which would not normally be open to the public or would usually charge an entrance fee. It ran from last Thursday to Sunday.