A CHARITABLE trust is the only way to secure the future of one of Morecambe' s most important buildings, the Friends of the Winter Gardens will tell the city council next month.

The Friends say a trust, made up of members of the friends, local councillors and expert business people, would be the best way to attract much-needed charitable funds to help develop the interior of the landmark building.

It has been five years since the exterior was refurbished using £1.2 million of public funds and despite a £20,000 feasibility study there is still no end user in sight.

A dispute over who owns the building or has a charge against it had dogged it's development and the Friends claim it will be left in limbo unless something is done.

They want to see a charitable trust take over the management of the building so that an application can be made for lottery money.

Friends Chairman Evelyn Archer said: "We're pleased that the outside of the building has been restored but that was five years ago and it is already beginning to look tatty.

"It's vital for Morecambe's future that something is done with this magnificent building.

A lot of public money was spent on this building and it's important that it's brought back into public use or that money will have been wasted.

"We believe a trust is the best way forward.

A trust has much more chance of getting charitable funds and at the end of the day the building can only survive if it gets the money needed to refurbish the interior."

Councillors will hear an address from the Friends in April.