BURNLEY Youth Theatre's goal of moving into new premises has come a step closer with a bid to the North West Development Agency for £350,000.

Staff at the theatre say they are optimistic the bid will be successful and that they will be able to get their new theatre up and running by the end of next year.

The money will take the theatre to its target of just over £1million for the new building, The North West Development Agency will announce the result of the bid in October, with work hopefully starting in the spring.

The present Queens Park Road theatre will remain open while work takes place on the new theatre. It has received an Arts Lottery award of £365,000 and is also being backed by Burnley Council, Lancashire County Council and Barnfield Construction Ltd.

The new buildings, which will include a new studio, exhibition and office space, will replace the theatre's current wooden accommodation off Queens Park Road.

The group also has offices in portable cabins at the site, for which it pays rent.

Burnley Youth Theatre was formed by a small group of young amateur dramatics enthusiasts in 1973. It started life in Towneley School and has been at its present location since 1978.

Around 350 young people are currently involved with the group who also stage productions in Pendle and Hyndburn and have completed projects in Rossendale and the Ribble Valley.

It has four paid members of staff, two full-time volunteers and 350 youngsters who take part in various activities each week.

Alan Daiches, a volunteer worker on the board of the theatre, outlined the reasons behind the move.

He said: "It is a combination of the fact that the current building is getting old and increasing demand for the things that we do means that we need more space.

"We are very optimistic that the bid will be successful and that will mean we can do a lot more work."

The theatre also works with schools across East Lancashire providing premises for those who do not have facilities for GCSE Drama.