VOLUNTEERS aiming to raise cash for a severely handicapped eight-year-old boy have been told they must pay more than £1,000 to use Preston's Charter Theatre.

Disappointed dance teacher Melanie Bodman, of Cadley Avenue, Fulwood, Preston, will have to find £1,335 before she can stage a variety charity performance at the theatre later this year.

Although the charity fund raiser has enlisted dozens of professional performers -- who have agreed to take part for free -- she is faced with having to find business sponsors if the show is to go ahead. Melanie said: "The money is for the hire charge for the hall and includes the operational costs of the lighting and sound equipment."

"They said that the quote I'd been given was the price they charge for charities but it's quite high. I didn't expect it to be that much."

All the money raised from the one-night only event will go to three local charities including the Sam Appeal -- for Preston bus driver's son Sam Dowd who is deaf, blind and severely handicapped.Melanie is hoping to raise enough money to send the wheelchair bound youngster to Florida to swim with dolphins and improve his quality of life. Other causes to benefit are Medicine Chernobyl who raise money for children in Belarus affected by nuclear contamination and St Joseph's Toddler Playgroup who are desperate for improved premises.

The planned extravaganza has a line up which includes jugglers, dancers, singers and bands but Preston Borough Council chiefs have refused to waive the fees.

The council said they would consider an alternative form of payment such as a percentage of the ticket sales but organisers fear this could exceed the £1,335. But Councillor Rose Kinsella, member of the leisure services scrutiny committee, said they could not depart from council policy.

General manager of the Guild Hall complex Alan Baker added that the quote was for their charity rate which was about £700 below the commercial rate. "We would very much like to help and would meet with organisations to see if there are any other way we could assist."