Clacton's largest arts group is campaigning to save the town's Princes Theatre.

Clacton and North East Essex Arts and Literary Society, which has 871 members, has sent letters to all 60 Tendring district councillors.

It is urging them to rethink the budget cut, which it claims would "warrant its virtual closure as a theatre".

The society is one of the largest in the UK and was founded in 1904. It packs out the Princes Theatre every Monday night throughout the winter.

The group said it was important for Tendring to build on what it has, rather than give up existing facilities.

And it said any reduction of facilities would put the 98-year-old society's future in jeopardy.

Robert Taylor, Tendring Council's portfolio holder for the arts, said in response that in an ideal world, budgetary cuts would not need to be made.

But he added financial cuts were needed in the leisure field and the choice made was the Princes Theatre.

However, he said there were no plans to run the theatre down, just cut out-of-season shows which did not show a profit.

He said there was still £195,000 in the capital expenditure for next year to spend on improvements to the theatre, such as backstage facilities and heating.

Published Thursday, February 7, 2002