ARTS Minister Kim Howells has laid the blame for the Swan Theatre crisis firmly at the door of Worcester City Council.

In a confrontational display, Mr Howells told a Westminster debate he had "great regret" about decisions taken by council bosses.

He said these included a botched bid for Lottery cash in 2001 to move the Swan to a new home which had failed to include vital information, such as a feasibility study, and had failed.

Mr Howells said this had limited the financial help West Midlands Arts could give to the closure-threatened theatre as the Swan's lifespan at its current venue was too limited.

"The difficulties faced by the Swan are not due to a lack of commitment by the Arts Council, but are indeed the result of decisions made by Worcester City Council," added the Junior Minister in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

"These are decisions which are a matter of great regret for my department - but, ultimately, they are local decisions."

Mr Howells spoke out after MPs Mike Foster and Peter Luff turned the spotlight on WMA's role in the Swan's funding crisis.

City MP Mr Foster noted the offer of an extra £50,000 made by WMA earlier this year to keep the playhouse open - but said other regional theatres had received as much as £250,000.

"Although the golden bullet was fired by the city council - which I regret bitterly - the gun was fashioned by the WMA's history of non-co-operation with the Swan, the city council and the county council," said Mid Worcestershire MP Mr Luff.

"The rot began with WMA's unconstructive approach to the Swan Theatre. That is the beginning of this crisis."

But Mr Howells hit back: "I think WMA wanted very much for it to be a success, and had put money that way.

"But there is a great deal of competition for funding, and where other local authorities and other funding partners have made a better fist of it that is where that funding is going to be directed."

The debate took place as Worcestershire County Council increased the pressure on the City Council by offering the Swan an extra £27,000 in funding.

The extra cash means that the city council is no longer being asked to find additional money to keep the theatre open.

If it simply reverses its controversial decision to actually cut the sum it pays every year, the Swan will be saved.