3.2 No start, weird whirring sound

What the heck is going on here? I tried to start the car, it turned over slightly, but no start, I put the ignition key off and there remains and electric motor type noise going in the engine bay area. I had to turn off the battery shutoff to get this to stop. If I turn the battery back on, the motor type noise goes on again. What would do this?

My first reaction is perhaps the fuel pump is not shutting off and I don't want a gas fire problem if I tried to start the car again, nor do I want to leave it whirring for long to figure out where it is conming from. Hence my appeal to the experts here before I investigate further.

 

Update: After the car had sat a while, I turned the battery switch on again, and the noise did not recur. I started the car, and it ran normally. But at first the heater valve did not actuate, then it idid and the heater worked. I am thinking the whirring noise was the secondary heater pump in the engine area that was not turning off with the ignition switch.

Am I presume the fuse box is due for a replacement? It is the original, and I have a GT Parts spare thast I bought some years ago expecting the moment would arrive.

 

Indeed I had replaced that pump a couple of years ago, and cleaned connections, etc. I had also replaced all the relays with new ones some time ago. I did do the Board change, and the original board was very deteriorated, so no regrets. I had the new board on hand, so it was as good a time as any to make the upgrade.

The new Board is confidence inspiring, and everything is running beautifully without any signs of electrical ghosts playing tricks.