SUPPORTERS of Worcester's Swan Theatre have raised £6,000 to go towards buying and installing a new air conditioning system in the building.

The cash has come in from donations at the end of Huntingdon Hall concerts and contributions from the Swan Theatre Amateur Society which raised £1,740 and the Great Witley Operatic Society which provided £250.

Following this year's hot summer, the theatre wants to offer customers greater comfort in extreme temperatures.

The project is expected to cost £60,000 and theatre bosses, who want the air conditioning installed in time for next summer, have put in a bid to the Sports and Arts Foundation for funding. The building is owned by Worcester City Council, which is working with the theatre on plans for the new system.

Head of the city's community services Alan Stuttard said: "We have had an initial meeting with the Swan Theatre engineer and we are looking at the drawings. It is currently with the Swan's designers."

He said if the bid was successful, the city council would help to make up any shortfall in the cash.

Worcester Live marketing manager Bridget Moore said: "We currently have an application for funding in for consideration with the Sports and Arts Foundation and we hope to hear in the next three months if we have been successful. If we are this would speed things along significantly.