ORGANISERS behind a failed £150,000 Lottery bid to help open up Minehead's Regal Theatre to the whole community have pledged the show will go on.

Trustees learnt this week that their hopes of securing just over half the cash needed for a major refurbishment project - including installing a lift - had been dashed.

Their bid for the money from the Lottery's Sea Change programme failed despite celebrity backing from singer Elkie Brooks, who lives in neighbouring Devon, and the "passionate backing" of local people.

But trustees' chairman Ray Tew told the Free Press yesterday (Thursday) that work on the £300,000 scheme to make the theatre more disabled-friendly and give it better kerb appeal would begin in March, putting the Regal out of action for three months.

"Naturally we are hugely disappointed at the decision," said Mr Tew. "However, we enjoy huge support from the community and we are determined not to let them down.

"We will seek other funding streams and continue our local fundraising activities."

Mr Tew said local fundraising efforts had brought in £160,000 and everyone at the theatre felt it was the right time to press ahead with a project that had been in the pipeline for the last ten years.

"That money has been raised without any public funding support and we feel we owe it to the many volunteers and local groups who continue to support us."

In May the Regal embarked on the last leg of its fundraising campaign with an official launch of the Lift Off Project.

Plans include the creation of a state-of-the-art glass and steel foyer, complementing the style of the existing refurbished theatre balcony.

The aim is to accommodate a street-level box office, more toilets, better electricity and plumbing systems and the all-important lift to enable theatregoers with limited mobility access to all areas of the theatre.

The work is intended to bring the Regal - which was built in 1934 - into the 21st century and ensure it complies with the Disability Discrimination Act.

The theatre, which is owned by retired businessman John Welch, has been leased to MATA - an umbrella group of theatre groups and performers - for a peppercorn rent since 1994 and relies on volunteers to keep it going.

Mr Tew said: "We remain committed to making the Regal Theatre, which has been part of the cultural and social fabric of Minehead for over 25 years and which has 25,000 visitors annually, an open and accessible venue for everyone in West Somerset."

Anyone willing to help with the theatre's campaign can contact Mr Tew via the box office on 01643 706430.