A major project costing more than £170,000 has begun to replace the roof on one of Minehead’s most familiar and historic buildings, the Regal Theatre.

The work will last some 13 weeks and initially involves the erection of a complicated scaffolding structure – necessary because of the complexity of the theatre roof which has multiple levels and angles.

The project is being undertaken by the MATA (Minehead Amateur Theatrical Association) Regal Theatre Company Ltd – an organisation entirely run by volunteers – and also involves the retail premises of Poundland which occupies the ground floor.

The work is expected to cause minimal disruption and the theatre will remain open throughout the project.

The Regal building, in The Avenue, opened in 1934 as a 1,600-seat cinema and was later used for live performances.

In 1979 it was converted to its present format with 400 raked seats, the stalls on the ground floor of the original cinema being converted into retail premises.

Over the last ten years, the cement-based roof has deteriorated considerably, causing several serious leaks, and the entire existing roof will be removed and replaced with a modern material comprising profiled steel composite insulated sheeting.

A new heating and ventilation system has already been installed in the building and a heat recovery unit will be fitted in the new roof as the work progresses.

Once the installation is complete, the system will operate more efficiently by recovering and recycling waste heat, improving comfort in the auditorium.

The work is being carried out in close co-operation with Pat Scott, who recently bought the next-door warehouse discount store – which used to be the Regal ballroom – and is carrying out work on the building to convert it into a multi-screen cinema.

MATA, which runs the Regal, is a charity with 200 volunteers who have helped to get the project to its current stage. Leading the project is Ian Melhuish, chairman of the building sub-committee.