A RAY of light appeared in the campaign to save Worcester's Swan Theatre via a huge message projected on to local landmarks.

Technical manager at the troubled theatre, Shaun Weager, took to the streets of the Faithful City armed with a powerful stage lantern to project "Save the Swan" on to the Cathedral.

The idea was inspired by a publicity stunt staged by men's magazine FHM, which projected an image of naked TV presenter Gail Hipgrave, then Porter, on to the side of the House of Commons in 1999.

"It's a bit of a grey area as far as the law is concerned," said Mr Weager.

"Because it's only light it's not graffiti."

Mr Weager first projected the message on the Swan Theatre at 7pm last night, then on the Cathedral between 8pm and 8.30pm and, finally, on the high-rise Elgar House, at Shrub Hill, until 9.30pm.

"We were originally going to project it on the front of the Guildhall but we didn't want to give the city council any negative ammunition to use against us," Mr Weager said.

The stunt was pulled off by using a "gobo" carved with the letters and placed in front of a powerful lantern.

"Gobos are metal discs we use in the theatre all the time to project images like a window on to the stage," said the technical manager.

The gobo used last night was made by London company DHA.

"We told them about our plight and they donated the gobo to us free of charge," said Mr Weager.

The lantern was also donated so the stunt did not cost the theatre any money.

"Before critics say they must have money to burn, this was all done with the goodwill of people who wanted to help us," said Mr Weager.

"And I did it on my night off so they didn't even pay me overtime.

"At the end of the day, I can get another job but Worcester can't get another theatre."

The stunt was the latest in the struggle to keep the theatre open after the council announced plans to slash its funding by £83,000 earlier this month.