DEMOLITION work on the first part of a Burnley theatre is due to begin after the project received a grant of £25,000.

Members of Burnley Youth Theatre in Queens Park Road, Burnley, are currently clearing the first building and storing stage equipment and props in secure containers, ready for the bulldozers to move in.

The structure, dubbed 'wooden shacks', is due to be demolished in a fortnight.

A new venue will be then be built on the site. The project is supported by Burnley Borough Council and Barnfield Construction Ltd, as well as the County Council and recently received an Arts Lottery award of £365,000.

The second building, which houses the theatre and stage, will remain open while construction work continues on a new theatre.

Communications manager Sally Smith said: "There are exciting times ahead. It will be fascinating to see the work progress. While we hold workshops and performances in the old building the new one will be built around us."

She said there were plans to combine art work and possible drama work to coincide with the building project, but rather than move the theatre and its activities off site and then return to the new building, members will be able to see it develop in stages.

The theatre now has four paid members of staff and two full-time volunteers and more than 350 participants each week at the various activities.

Two major dramas will also be staged including Illyria, a play performed by a cast of eight youngsters aged 16 and over. As well as performing in Burnley, the play will also be staged at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough in May as part of a national event.

Moira Preston, BYT's Director of Finance said: "We are all delighted that the county is supporting our capital project as they have supported revenue projects of ours in the past.

"We urgently require new premises and we are hoping that work will start on site sometime this summer.

"This grant means that in total we have raised more than £625,000 towards the project's estimated cost of £744,000 and our fund-raising events are continuing."

The theatre unsuccessfully bid twice for lottery funding before finally a smaller scheme was accepted last year.

Sally added: "We hope to begin building in June."