THE end of a long campaign to make Minehead's Regal Theatre accessible to all was marked with a celebratory toast this week.

The facility's new lift and box office was officially declared open, with the bar being thrown open to a host of people who had helped make the long awaited dream a reality, from donors and theatre friends to civic dignitaries.

Local resident Kath Magill (pictured) was asked to perform the ceremony of going up in the lift to represent members of the community now able to visit and enjoy the improved facilities.

The opening marked a year since the lift and box office came into use.

But supporters have spent the time making great efforts to complete works to complement the major £330,000 improvement scheme, which includes stair illuminations, hallway carpeting, a new office, theatre users' kitchen, security systems and a host of other less obvious work.

Ray Tew, chairman of MATA (Regal Theatre) Co Ltd, thanked Mrs Magill for testing out the new lift and presented her with a bouquet.

The improvements have been delivered through fundraising and a number of grants, including a £50,000 contribution from West Somerset Council and £10,000 from Minehead Town Council.

So thanks were also given at the opening ceremony to district council chairman Cllr Stuart Dowding and Minehead Mayor Cllr Val Welch, as well as to the Friends of the Regal, representatives of LARC - Local Action for Rural Communities - other public funders, local organisations and many private donors who made the project possible.

But whilst recognising the achievements, Mr Tew also stressed the need to keep fundraising as the theatre's leaking roof is nearing the end of its life.

Organisers hope that the replacement will be used to generate solar energy and reduce the Regal's carbon footprint in the future.

Monday's celebrations ended with a performance of this year's panto - Mother Goose - by Minehead Panto People, which continues its run until tomorrow (Saturday January 11).