WHEN Terry and Joan Kelley tell people that they intend to live at Shane's Castle in Devizes the reaction is usually one of incredulity.

The Grade II listed building is situated on the corner of the busy A361 Bath Road linking Devizes with Trowbridge and the A342 to Chippenham.

Mr Kelley, an entrepreneur and writer, said: "People ask us what we will do once we have finished work on it. When we tell them we are going to live in it they just can't believe it, because of the location, but we think it's going to be a delightful home."

American Mr Kelley and his London-born wife bought Shane's Castle at an auction last July and have been renovating it ever since, a job that will take them until the end of this year.

The former tollhouse was in a bad state of repair after an electrical fire four years ago. Neglected by its old owner, it became home to squatters and then stood empty for more than two years.

Estate agents despaired that the property would ever be lived in again but then Mr and Mrs Kelley saw it and fell in love with it. They paid £70,000 for it and Mr Kelley estimates they will spend about £90,000 on restoring it.

"While we have been working on it a number of motorists have waved at us and honked their horns," he said.

"People have stopped to chat to us and they appreciate what we are doing to restore it. People who remember it say it was a beautiful building.

"After we bought it there was a rumour going around the town that as I am an American I wanted to knock it down and take it brick by brick to the United States, which I had to smile about."

The couple, who are renting a property in Yatesbury, recently received listed building consent from Kennet District Council to restore the stonework, put in windows and make internal alterations.

Two walls have been knocked down to open up the living area. The existing staircase, which is steep, will be ripped out and a wooden spiral staircase will be installed.

Mrs Kelley has been hard at work clearing the tiny garden area that has an old yew tree which they plan to keep.

The couple have a 100-year-old photograph of Shane's Castle in all its grandeur, with the yew tree in front.

Mr Kelley said: "The yew tree is still here, so it is a survivor. The council has agreed that we can cut it back but we will be keeping it."

The council also agreed that double glazing could be installed, a necessity to block out the noise of the traffic.

The couple, who are in their fifties, also plan to have a roof top garden.

There is a small hard standing area where one of the couple's cars can be parked, but Mr Kelley is looking for a lockup garage to rent. Mr Kelley is making doors from reclaimed French oak and some of the cabinets for inside Shane's Castle.

The couple's eldest daughter JJ has set up a website, (www.shanescas tle.co.uk) which details the planned layout of the property along with photographs of the work that has taken place.

l If you have a lockup garage to rent Mr Kelley can be contacted on 0788 158 4406.