PALACE Theatre supporters who made donations to fund its refurbishment more than 20 years ago have been assured their legacy will not be forgotten.

Redditch Council has promised memorial plaques, given as a thank you to those who funded new seating at the theatre, will be permanently displayed.

The plaques featured the names of lost loved ones and were fixed to seating in the stalls of the Alcester Street theatre.

But after the seating was recently ripped out to make way for major refurbishment, many supporters were concerned the plaques would also be scrapped.

Mavis Brazil, of Alvechurch, who had three seats dedicated to loved ones, was particularly worried about the future of the memorial plaques.

"It would be horrifying if they were lost," she said.

But a Palace Theatre spokesman assured Mrs Brazil and other Palace Theatre supporters the plaques would take pride of place in the modernised venue.

He said: "The original Bakelite memorial plaques have become brittle over time and are now too fragile to put back onto the refurbished seats.

"They will be permanently displayed showing their position in the original seating plan when the theatre re-opens next spring."